EXPLAINER
Chelsea dominated European football’s January 2023 transfer window with a flurry of signings, while Bayern surprised.
Chelsea have made Enzo Fernandez the most expensive player in English football history in a deal worth $131 million, as the spending power of the Premier League dominated the January 2023 transfer window.
Other major signings were also sealed on the final day of a frenetic European transfer window on Tuesday, when Joao Cancelo made a surprise move to Bayern Munich and Jorginho joined Arsenal.
Here are the key takeaways from the January transfer window:
Chelsea struggled to spend money
- Graham Potter’s Chelsea – currently in 10th place in the Premier League – had an incredible spend in January, bringing in a host of players including Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Joao Felix, who joined Atletico Madrid on loan.
- people Argentina The champion of the world Fernandez, who was announced by Portuguese club Benfica in the early hours of Wednesday, is Chelsea’s eighth signing of the January transfer window. The 22-year-old is said to have signed an eight-and-a-half year contract.
- The £106.8 million ($131.5 million) fee eclipses the previous record of £100 million ($123 million) that Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.
- Chelsea’s long-term contract allows them to stay in Financial justice (FFP) limits spending by spreading transfer costs over multiple seasons. Ukrainian winger Mudryk, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for $108 million, was also signed to an eight-and-a-half-year contract.
PL spending overshadows the rest of Europe
- Chelsea alone have spent more than the top teams in France, Spain, Italy and Germany combined as the other major European leagues have been modest in their transactions this transfer window.
- According to football data website Transfermarkt, English teams paid around $831 million, excluding loan payments, while the other four top leagues spent around $263 million.
- France’s total is $128 million, the next highest after the Premier League.
- German clubs paid around $74 million in January.
- Teams in Spain spent $30 million during the transfer window, with Italian clubs paying $30.89 million.
Arsenal step up their championship efforts
- Premier League leaders Arsenal have bolstered their bid to win their first league title since 2004 by signing Brighton attacker Leandro Trossard and making a surprise final-day move for the midfielder. Chelsea Jorginho’s Italian.
- Despite links to Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, Arsenal will have to wait at least until the summer to complete that move.
Bayern surprised by Cancelo
- One of the most exciting signings of the transfer window has been completed by Bayern Munich with the loan of Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo on deadline day for the remainder of the season.
- The German league champions’ interest in the 28-year-old appeared only on Monday, with the deal including the option to buy the Portugal international for $76 million.
- Bayern also signed former Manchester United and Ajax defender Daley Blind on a free transfer earlier this month.
moist squib for Serie A
- A quiet deadline day in Italy ended a winter transfer window that saw the lowest spending by Serie A clubs since 2016.
- The biggest outlay was from Fiorentina, who made Antonín Barák leave Hellas Verona permanently on Tuesday’s deadline, paying €8.5 million ($9.24 million) to the Czech Republic international, who was on loan at the Tuscan club since August.
- None of the top four – Napoli, Inter Milan, Lazio, Atalanta – spent this month.
- Juventus also have no payouts this month, although defender Luca Pellegrini has joined Lazio on loan. The club is just 10 points above the relegation zone after having 15 points deducted for wrong prescription in the first day of this month.
Barcelona keep rising star Gavi
- Barcelona must focus on retaining one of their most exciting talents, rather than bringing in any major signings.
- The Spanish league leader has attempted to sign Gavi with the first team, which would make it impossible for him to leave for free in the summer.
Manchester United sign contract to protect injured Eriksen
- Manchester United signed Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan early Wednesday.
- United were forced into action on the final day after an ankle injury against Christian EriksenThe Danish midfielder will be out of action until the beginning of May.
- Manager Erik ten Hag completed the loan signing of Dutch striker Wout Weghorst earlier this month.
Big January transfer
- Fernandez – Benfica to Chelsea: $131 million
- Jorginho – Chelsea to Arsenal: 14.8 million USD
- Joao Cancelo – Manchester City to Bayern Munich: On loan
- Marcel Sabitzer – Bayern to Manchester United: On loan
- Mykhaylo Mudryk – Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea: $108 million
- Anthony Gordon – Everton to Newcastle United: $55.4 million
- Cody Gakpo – PSV to Liverpool: $45.6 million
- Benoit Badiashile – Monaco to Chelsea: $43.1 million
- Georginio Rutter – Hoofenheim to Leeds United: $43.5 million
- Noni Madeeke – PSV to Chelsea: $38 million
- Leandro Trossard- Brighton to Arsenal: 33.2 million USD
- Malo Gusto – Lyon to Chelsea: 32.4 million USD
