The Top 10 Best January Deadline Day Signings In Premier League History

Deadline Day Chaos

There's only one week to go until the fabled transfer deadline day approaches where there have been many success stories and some ridiculous ones (sorry Peter Odemwingie). Clubs don't tend to sign a player on deadline day unless they have been pushing the whole window, or they really are that desperate for a player.

As Mourinho once said, "sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe sh*t." Usually they are the latter. However, some deadline day signings prove to be genius, and this list represents the signings that have played significantly well for the club that signed them.

It's always a rollercoaster of emotions on deadline day, and owners digging far too deep into their pockets for a player. Here are the ones that worked out.

10 - Lucas Moura - PSG to Spurs - January 2018

After a £25 million move across the coast of France and from European giants PSG, Lucas arrived in North London with some expectations.

It's fair to say he never set the world alight at Spurs, netting only 20 goals in over 100 appearances. However, one iconic moment in history gets him on this list.

His superb hat-trick against Ajax sent Spurs to their first ever Champions League final in 2019, in what was a thrilling 3-2 comeback. Whilst they might have lost the final, Moura's brilliance will live on for generations.

Lucas Moura scored a hat-trick to send Tottenham to their first ever Champions League final.

Build the man a statue.

Unbelievable scenes!!!pic.twitter.com/Nvw0epruu6

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 8, 2019

9 - Moisés Caicedo - Independiente del Valle to Brighton - January 2021

Caicedo's deadline day move had Brighton fans questioning who they had sign for £4 million - he hardly played in his first half-of-a-season in the Premier League and went on loan the next season.

However, his breakthrough came in the 2022-23 season where Caicedo cemented himself as one of the most promising midfielders in the league. Tenacity and composure on the ball, Caicedo showed it all and Chelsea paid a whopping £115 million to sign him a year later. Over £100 million profit later, Brighton can say they've had one of the best coups on deadline day in recent times.

For Caicedo, he soon squashed the one season wonder rumours but the best is yet to come from the 24-year-old Ecuadorian... as long as he reels in the red cards.

With Moises Caicedo’s form this season, he should be included in the TOTY so far. He’s world class.#Ad @Coral https://t.co/j2Yza7NZ35 pic.twitter.com/SS3WQkZV3Y

— Williams ©️ (@CFCNewsReport) January 23, 2026

8 - Dele Alli - MK Dons to Spurs - January 2015

It was a deadline day coup for Spurs and Dele Alli was loaned straight back to MK Dons to keep on playing regular football. That decision proved to be a valuable one, as Dele returned a fine prospect.

Whilst it might not have turned out how everyone expected, Dele's early years were superb under Mauricio Pochettino. He claimed two Young PFA Player of The Year awards and set the world alight. We will never know the player he could've become, but the player we saw was something special.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿😍 10 years ago today: Dele Alli produced this piece of magic for Tottenham. He was 19-years-old at the time. 🌟👏 pic.twitter.com/UqZZwvPOZ4

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 23, 2026

7 - Olivier Giroud - Arsenal to Chelsea - January 2018

I think people forget how important Olivier Giroud was as a player for Chelsea. There's no denying he was brilliant at Arsenal yet, arguably at Chelsea he had a bigger impact.

This deadline day signing turned out to be a shrewd piece of business for The Blues. In just three seasons, he helped Chelsea win the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup, earning cult hero status for his goals in crucial moments.

Sometimes erratic deadline day moves pay off, and this is a prime example why.

Oliver Giroud is leaving CHELSEA permanently today

It starts well and ends well

Thank you for everything Oli👏💙💙 pic.twitter.com/B1CshwQHAn

— TJNOFEAR🌟🌟 (@tjnofear26) July 16, 2021

6 - Jarrod Bowen - Hull City to West Ham - January 2020

Another cult hero at their respective club is Jarrod Bowen. Emerging as a deadline day signing from Championship side Hull, Hammers fans didn't know what to expect from a second division talent.

Flash forward six years later, and Bowen has become a club legend at West Ham, scoring the winning goal in the 2023 Europa Conference League Final. This was West Ham's first major trophy in 43 years and had fans fall in love with the England star.

Despite being a consistent attacking threat on The Hammers right-hand side, it is looking more and more likely that Bowen could leave amidst their poor league form. Another deadline day move could be on the cards?

🥳 Happy birthday to Europa Conference League winner, Jarrod Bowen 🎈@WestHam || #HBD || #UECL pic.twitter.com/SdXzZoqBYw

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) December 20, 2023

5 - John Stones - Barnsley to Everton - January 2013

Another signing from the deep unknown of quality players (the EFL), John Stones to Everton flew under the radar for most football fans. Signed for a steady £3 million on deadline day, his composure on the ball and defensive quality as a teenager impressed Everton scouts.

A good few years at The Toffees had the big clubs calling, with Manchester City winning the race with a £50 million fee. Whilst his best days were with City, the profit Everton made alone puts Stones on this list.

🔵 John stones is free to leave Manchester City. Everton are interested.

(Source: @tbrfootball) pic.twitter.com/6hn1nDorbV

— Everton Xtra (@Everton_Xtra) May 5, 2025

4 - Mikel Arteta - Real Sociedad to Everton - January 2005

Another former Arsenal player on this list, Mikel Arteta's deadline day signing to Everton was initially a loan deal but became permanent in the following summer for only £2 million.

It was a low-key signing from manager at the time David Moyes, but Arteta became the technical mastermind in his midfield and was a crucial part of Everton's rise to becoming a top-six contender.

He remains to be one of the smartest pieces of business on deadline day ever and is one of Everton's best ever midfielders to date.

Class this from Mikel Arteta 👏👏👏

Nice to see Arteta hasn’t forgotten his past at Everton Football Club 👍

pic.twitter.com/AdyuxrzHAd

— Lea (@Lea_EFC) December 22, 2025

3 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal - January 2018

Before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made his deadline day move, he was always known for being a demon on FIFA with his ridiculous pace. However, Aubameyang was also a clinical goalscorer and Arsenal broke their transfer record to secure his signature, a reported £56 million.

Whilst there were some doubts, Aubameyang quickly quietened doubters, scoring 10 goals in his first 14 games for the club. He quickly turned into a leader at Arsenal carrying the side on his back with two goals in the FA Cup semi-final and final to win the trophy. On top of that the golden boot in his debut season. It's a shame that him and the club ended on bad terms.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Arsenal career🇬🇦
🏟163 Games
⚽️ 92 Goals
🎯 21 Assists
🏆1 ×FA CUP WINNER
🏆1 ×Community Shield WINNER
🏅1 ×Arsenal Player of the Year
🏅1 ×Golden boot Winner
Thanks for everything AUBA⚡was a pleasure to have you here❤🐅 pic.twitter.com/72UVVhVDwI

— Abdelrahman.T (@ATlayjeh) January 31, 2022

2 - Jermaine Defoe - West Ham to Spurs - January 2004

It is easy to forget how clinical of a striker Jermain Defoe was. Out of all the great English strikers, he has to be one of the most underappreciated. His deadline day move was a return to the Premier League after relegation a season before with West Ham.

West Ham's hand might've been forced by Defoe but he deserved to be playing top-flight football. Across two spells at the club, Defoe’s goals underpinned Tottenham’s climb from mid‑table obscurity to European qualification. He scored 143 goals in all competitions and proved himself as one of deadline day's best signings.

🗓 #OnThisDay in 2004... We signed the one and only, @IAmJermainDefoe ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/kIvHyguv4T

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 2, 2022

1 - Luis Suarez - Ajax to Liverpool - January 2011

Taking the spot for the best ever January deadline day signing is, of course, Luis Suarez. Signed as Fernando Torres' replacement, Suarez was a very desperate signing for Liverpool as they were under immense pressure to sign their next talisman. Their desperation changed history and unlocked one of the best strikers to ever grace the game. Comically enough Andy Carroll was signed hours later, I think you can decide who the better player was.

Straight away, Suarez started netting goals for fun eventually scoring 82 goals in just 133 games by the time he joined Barcelona. His 2013/14 will always be remembered as one of the greatest individual seasons in league history, as he scored 31 goals, won the Golden Boot, and dragged Liverpool to within two points of the title.

He is always surrounded by controversy - with a few bites here and there - but Suarez is hands down the best January deadline day signing to grace the Premier League

Luis Suárez's record at Liverpool was simply phenomenal 🤩

• 133 matches
• 82 goals
• 47 assists

He joined the Reds on this day in 2011 for just £22.8m 👏 pic.twitter.com/0V3mJbynf7

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 31, 2020