The January 2026 transfer window has officially closed, and while the EFL Championship and Scottish leagues saw their fair share of activity, the biggest money and headlines remained firmly in the Premier League and on the international stage.
From Crystal Palace’s massive £48m outlay to Karim Benzema’s latest move in the Saudi Pro League, here is your streamlined roundup of the major deals that matter most.
Premier League: Palace’s Statement and Wolves’ Rebuild
The English top flight dominated the financial charts, with clubs scrambling to finalize squads for the run-in.
- The £48m Man: Crystal Palace made the window’s most significant splash, signing striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves for a fee of £48 million. It is a massive gamble for the Eagles, who are banking on the Norwegian’s goals to define their season.
- Wolves Reinvest: Having sold their star striker, Wolves were incredibly busy. They brought in Angel Gomes on loan from Marseille to add creativity and signed Adam Armstrong from Southampton to bolster their attack.
- Sunderland’s Ambition: Competing in the top tier, Sunderland flexed their financial muscle by landing Nilson Angulo from Anderlecht for £17.5m.
The “Big Six” Updates:
- Arsenal: Focused on youth, bringing in Evan Mooney from St Mirren.
- Manchester City: Pep Guardiola opted to recall Sverre Nypan from his loan spell at Middlesbrough rather than spending big.
- Liverpool: Similarly, the Reds recalled James McConnell from Ajax to provide midfield cover.
- Tottenham: Added depth by signing James Wilson on loan from Hearts.
- Chelsea: Continued their clear-out, sending defender Axel Disasi to West Ham on loan and Tyrique George to Everton on a temporary deal.
Europe & International: Benzema on the Move Again
Outside of England, the transfer market delivered some fascinating storylines involving global stars.
- Benzema to Al Hilal: In the biggest international news of the day, legendary striker Karim Benzema has left Al Ittihad to join rivals Al Hilal on a free transfer, continuing his journey in the Saudi Pro League.
- Sissoko to Greece: Former Tottenham and Watford powerhouse Moussa Sissoko has completed a permanent move to Greek giants Panathinaikos.
- Schalke Spend Big: German side Schalke raided Sunderland for Adil Aouchiche, paying £17.5m for the midfielder.
- Italian Job: Aston Villa’s Samuel Iling Jr has headed to Italy, joining Pisa on loan, while Chelsea youngster Yahya Idrissi secured a move to AC Milan.
For more updates and analysis on these transfers, stay tuned to SportsBiz.co.ke.
