Europe’s winter transfer window is set to close on Monday, prompting teams to scramble for final deals before the deadline. The likes of Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Tottenham are anticipated to be particularly active.
Manchester City has already invested approximately $150 million to rejuvenate a squad that has faced significant challenges this season. Despite these efforts, they have yet to address critical issues in central midfield and right back. With just hours remaining in the transfer window, reports suggest they are pursuing 23-year-old Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who is a product of the Barcelona academy.
Aston Villa has also been busy, having sold Jhon Duran to Saudi club Al-Nassr and secured Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United. The club, currently in the round of 16 in the Champions League, may look to acquire another forward and is rumored to be interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Asensio. Meanwhile, the future of star striker Ollie Watkins remains uncertain, as Arsenal reportedly targets him to enhance their attacking lineup in their bid for the Premier League title.
Arsenal has also shown interest in Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel, who seems to be on a trajectory towards a loan move to Tottenham, according to various reports.
In a decisive attempt to salvage a challenging season, Manchester City has made four key signings during the January transfer window. They brought in Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush for $73 million, along with defenders Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens and Vitor Reis for a combined $77 million. Additionally, they signed 18-year-old left back Christian McFarlane from sister club New York City FC. However, the departure of captain Kyle Walker to AC Milan has prompted Matheus Nunes—a midfielder who has fallen out of favor—to fill the right back position in recent matches.
Should City successfully sign Gonzalez, they would secure a defensive midfielder reminiscent of Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner who is sidelined for the season due to an ACL injury sustained in September. Currently, the prospect of winning a record-extending fifth consecutive Premier League title appears unlikely, as City trails 15 points behind frontrunners Liverpool. Added to this is the challenge of facing the reigning Champions League holders, Real Madrid, in the upcoming playoff. Nevertheless, manager Pep Guardiola remains optimistic that the recent acquisitions can help turn the season around.
On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain is vying to reestablish its presence as a “galactico” club. Following the losses of high-profile stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, the club has shifted its focus to younger and predominantly French talents. However, the acquisition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli for approximately $72 million marks a return to securing standout players. Although the Georgia forward may not possess the same level of fame as Messi or Neymar, he remains one of Europe’s most coveted talents with his match-winning capabilities.
PSG has also shed two players acquired for large sums in the past, with striker Randal Kolo Muani—who was signed for $101 million last season—now loaned to Juventus and central defender Milan Skriniar moving to Fenerbahce.
The Saudi league has also experienced a slowdown in high-profile moves. Neymar’s contract with Al-Hilal was terminated last week, marking the end of his brief stint in Saudi Arabia, as he returned to his boyhood club, Santos. Neymar, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, was pivotal in Saudi Arabia’s recruitment strategy to attract elite players. However, injury limited Neymar to just seven appearances following his $98 million transfer in 2023, clouding his time in the kingdom.
Other notable exits include Jordan Henderson’s move from Al-Ettifaq to Ajax after six months, and Portuguese forward Jota, who left Al-Ittihad after a year for Rennes, before eventually returning to Celtic during this transfer window.
In terms of significant signings during this window, Duran, the Colombian striker who went to Al-Nassr from Villa for roughly £64 million ($80 million), stands out. Speculation continues to swirl around Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, whose contract expires at the season’s end and who has consistently been linked with moves away from Anfield.
The women’s soccer scene is also witnessing substantial moves, with U.S. defender Naomi Girma becoming the first million-dollar player after her transfer from San Diego Wave to Chelsea. The club further bolstered its roster by bringing back England midfielder Keira Walsh from Barcelona to the Women’s Super League. The deadline for women’s transfers concluded last week, marking an exciting period for the sport.
