Top 10 Greatest January Signings in Premier League History (Ranked)
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Top 10 Greatest January Signings in Premier League History (Ranked)

Top 10 Greatest January Signings in Premier League History (Ranked)

As we approach the new year, football is set to enter one of the most interesting times in the calendar, the January transfer window. So today we will be looking into who the 10 best transfers ever made in this month are.

10. Branislav Ivanovic (Lokomotiv Moscow – Chelsea)

Ivanovic is one of those players not many people will remember unless he played for your club; however, for Chelsea he will be remembered as one of, if not the best, right backs to have played at the club. After joining Chelsea in the January of 2008 for just over £10 million, he struggled to get into the team.

However, after a dramatic Champions League game against Liverpool, in which he scored a brace, Ivanovic would see himself start to find some form, which would see him force his way into the team. After a slow start, the full-back proved himself vital to some of the most successful Chelsea teams, being able to play out wide in defence and in the middle. He ended his Chelsea career after 7 years and 377 appearances. He has definitely earned himself a spot on this list.

9. Gary Cahill (Bolton – Chelsea)

Yet another player from the West London team, Cahill has arguably been their best piece of business done in the winter window. After joining for just £7 million from Bolton Wanderers, he proved himself as one of the best defenders in the league and managed to earn a league title as a result.

While that team is often remembered for a certain other English defender in the team, Cahill played just as important a role for Chelsea that season as captain John Terry, and after 290 matches for the Blues, he left and ended his Chelsea career as one of the best pieces of business they had done, and certainly their best in the January transfer window.

8. Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth – Tottenham)

The striker only cost Spurs a grand total of £14 million and to say he was worth every penny would be an understatement. The impact that he had on the North London team can’t be overlooked, as they struggled before signing him in 2009. After they managed to lure him to White Hart Lane, their difficulty converting chances stopped, and they even ended up in the Champions League spots for the first time.

He would end this particular stint at Spurs with 79 goals for the club and his overall Spurs career with 140 goals in 361 games. His ability to turn them into a UCL team alone gets him a place on here and allows him to go down as one of the greatest January signings.

7. Philippe Coutinho (Inter Milan – Liverpool)

One of the Premier League's great entertainers when he was playing in England, and arguably the greatest Brazilian to have ever played in the league. Coutinho initially joined the Reds for a price of £11.1 million in 2013, and he soon proved to be a bargain, quickly making himself a key part of that Liverpool team that so almost won the league in 2014.

As if a script had already been written, January was also the time that Coutinho waved goodbye to Anfield, leaving Liverpool to join Barcelona, and while he didn’t bring any silverware to Liverpool, his technical ability brought plenty of enjoyment to fans, managers and players alike. Moreover, the money that they sold him for allowed Liverpool to build the mega team that would win them the UCL in 2019, and that so-desired Premier League trophy. For all of this, his place on this list is very much warranted.

6. Patrice Evra (Monaco – Manchester United)

After joining Manchester United for just under £7 million, Evra would quickly become that nailed-on starting left back for United and would enjoy his role there for nine years, becoming one of the best left backs the league has ever seen in the process. With 379 games played, 5 league titles and even a UCL trophy with United, Evra can definitely be comfortable on this list and could even have a claim to be placed higher than this for the price and success of this move.

5. Bruno Fernandes (Sporting CP – Manchester United)

Yet another United signing, and a trend you need to start getting used to as we reach the business end of this list, Bruno has been a success no matter your opinion of him. The best post-Fergie signing without a shadow of a doubt, and the best player United has had in years, he had to have a place on here. While he doesn't boast as much silverware as the likes of Evra and Ivanovic, he has still been one of the reasons United have even got close to replicating their glory days.

After joining for £55 million, Bruno kicked on straight away with an incredible first half of the season and has never looked back - with 260 appearances, 85 goals, 76 assists and counting, he has earned a spot on here.

4. Andy Cole (Newcastle United – Manchester United)

However, one United player he can’t be above is Andy Cole. Joining United in 1995 for a then-significant fee of £8.2 million, Cole quickly established himself as one of the best strikers in the league and that the league would ever see. While he didn’t quite guide United to the title in his first season, he redeemed himself next season, and they would win the following year. He would end his career with United having played 275 games and getting 121 goals with 44 assists, an incredible return for the striker; hence, his well-earned spot on this list. However, the 4 above him just did a bit more.

3. Luis Suarez (Ajax – Liverpool)

One example of this is another striker - Suarez was simply a different beast in the Premier League. He and Gerrard turned Liverpool into one of the most dangerous teams in the league and, with the addition of Coutinho, as mentioned earlier, almost did the job of winning the league. He was one of the greatest forwards not just in England but in the world and would break the goal-scoring record, netting 31 goals in a single season. His ability in front of goal was second to none, and this would eventually see him also leave to join Barcelona with a tally of 82 goals and 46 assists to his name - just under a contribution a game!

Now, as we enter the top two, very few will be surprised by the fact that it is a Liverpool vs Manchester United rivalry - both have a valid claim to the title of January transfer kings, but who will place at number one?

2. Virgil Van Dijk (Southampton – Liverpool)

Sorry, Reds - this time, the Liverpool player loses out, and while I'm sure you could make a very convincing claim to him taking the number one spot, we just don't see it.

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton for a then-world record transfer fee for a defender, which sat at £75 million. People expected great things from the Dutchman, and he would not disappoint, immediately cementing himself as the best central defender in the league. He would just get better and better, winning PFA player of the league and getting unlucky to not win the Ballon d’Or. He has had an incredible career at Liverpool, winning 2 league titles and a UCL, and he will be hoping that as he reaches the twilight of his career, he can help bring another one of these trophies to the club that he has almost made 300 appearances for.

The main reason that he hasn’t found himself in the top spot is as simple as the huge fee Liverpool needed to sacrifice to bring him on - he was the most expensive defensive signing ever, so the fact that he was so highly rated puts this just ever so slightly below our number one pick. Speaking of ...

1. Nemanja Vidic (Spartak Moscow – Manchester United)

Vidić joined United for a meagre £7 million in 2006, and would make up half of one of the greatest defensive duos we have ever seen in the league, alongside Rio Ferdinand. He was an absolute unit at the back; his strength and power allowed him to play his style of no-nonsense defending in the league, and this became his greatest asset, as he wrote himself into history with brute force, runaway train tackles and proper hardman performances. He truly cemented himself as one of the greats and, to some, as the greatest defender in the league’s history.

A lot said about Van Dijk can be said about Vidic, as they are both two of the greatest defenders we have ever seen in the Premier League; however, where Vidic just beats out Van Dijk is the £7 million transfer fee he cost, something he earned back many times over in his career at United, where he played 300 times.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Alec Hayward

Writer

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