The January transfer window 2024 has been open for nine days and we’ve already witnessed some potentially impactful deals. While there haven’t been many big-name or shocking moves, there have been some surprising transfers.
Clubs use the January transfer window to make some minor changes to their squads in terms of additions or departures to prepare for the second half of the season. However, we have seen some big transfers in the winter window in the past like Enzo Fernandez’s £115 million move from Benfica to Chelsea.
There haven’t been such huge transfers in the January transfer window 2024 so far but let’s take at some of the best ones:
Jadon Sancho
According to Fabrizio Romano, Jadon Sancho is set to return to Borussia Dortmund on a six-month loan deal from Manchester United. The deal contains no buy option but the German side will pay €4 million in part of his wages and loan fee.
Sancho had previously spent four years at Dortmund before joining Manchester United for around €80 million in 2021. He contributed 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games for the German side. However, he couldn’t replicate his form at Old Trafford, registering only 12 goals and six assists in 82 games.
Sancho had a public falling out with manager Erik ten Hag in September last year, which led to him being banished from Manchester United’s first team. He is now set to return to Dortmund in the ongoing January transfer window and will hope to rejuvenate his form at his old hunting ground.
Dortmund are currently fifth in the Bundesliga table. They topped their UEFA Champions League group and have been drawn against PSV Eindhoven for the Round of 16.
Donny van de Beek
Donny van de Beek had a miserable time at Manchester United since joining the club from Ajax for £35 million in 2020. The Dutch midfielder had scored 41 goals and made 34 assists in 175 games for the Eredivisie giants.
However, due to injury issues and poor form, he could only feature 62 times for Manchester United, recording two goals and two assists to his name.
Van de Beek has now joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a six-month-long loan deal. The deal also contains an option to buy worth £9.5 million plus £2.6 million add-ons.
Frankfurt are currently sixth in the Bundesliga table and are also in the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs. They will hope Donny van de Beek can find his form from Ajax to help them compete in both competitions.
Also Read: Manchester United Pursues Everton’s Amadou Onana in Potential Swap Deal with Scott McTominay
Eric Bailly
Former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has joined Villarreal from Besiktas on a free transfer in the January transfer window 2024.
The Ivory Coast international had joined Besiktas only last summer on a free transfer after ending a seven-year stint with Manchester United. Due to injury issues, Bailly could only make eight appearances for the Turkish side before leaving last month.
Villarreal, meanwhile, are struggling this season, having finished fifth in La Liga last season. The Yellow Submarines are 13th in the standings, just four points above the relegation zone. They have also been eliminated from the Copa del Rey.
Villarreal have, however, qualified for the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, having topped their group.
They will hope Bailly, who won the competition with Manchester United in 2017, will be able to help them turn their form around in the league as well.
Hugo Lloris
The January transfer window 2024 saw the end of an era as Hugo Lloris brought an end to his 11-year stint with Tottenham Hotspur.
He made 447 appearances for the North London side and captained the side since 2015. He kept 127 clean sheets in 361 Premier League appearances for Spurs, both a club record.
Lloris has now joined Major League Soccer (MLS) side Los Angeles FC on a free transfer. The club parted ways with Maxime Crepeau as he joined Portland Timbers.
LAFC won the Western Conference playoffs last season, beating Houston Dynamo in the final. Lloris is now expected to be their No. 1 and will hope to help them retain the trophy.
The Frenchman last played in Tottenham’s 6-1 defeat at Newcastle United in the Premier League on April 23, 2023.
Vitor Roque
While technically not a January transfer window 2024 transfer, Vitor Roque has joined Barcelona from Athletico Paranaense this winter.
The Blaugrana completed the agreement for his move last summer itself but he stayed on loan with the Brazilian side. The 18-year-old forward scored 21 goals and provided eight assists in 45 games for Athletico Paranaense last season.
Roque joined Barcelona in a season where they have been far from their best. Defending their La Liga title, Barca sit third in the standings, seven points behind Real Madrid, who are at the top. Xavi Hernandez’s side have scored 36 goals in 19 La Liga games this season, the joint-lowest among the top five.
Robert Lewandowski has scored just eight league goals in 17 appearances for far. Roque, while young, is expected to compete with the veteran for the striker position.
The Brazilian youngster has already made two appearances for Barcelona across competitions. He can get his hands on his first trophy with the club this month as they prepare to compete in the Supercopa de Espana.
Also Read: Borussia Dortmund Secures Verbal Agreement for Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen in Winter Transfer Move
Fabio Carvalho
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Fabio Carvalho is set to join Hull City from Liverpool on a six-month loan deal.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder joined Liverpool from Fulham in the summer of 2022 with immense promise. He made 21 appearances for them across competitions, scoring three goals.
However, Carvalho was loaned out to RB Leipzig last summer, where he spent the majority of the time on the bench. He started just three games across competitions, making 15 overall appearances and registering zero goal contributions.
Carvalho returned to Liverpool, who will now send him to Hull City until the end of the season in a loan deal with no buy option.
Hull are currently competing for a playoff spot in the Championship. They are just a point behind sixth-placed Sunderland in the standings. They are also looking to qualify for the FA Cup fourth round as they face Birmingham City away in a third-round replay after a draw in the first encounter.
Timo Werner
Former Chelsea attacker Timo Werner has joined London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a six-month loan deal from RB Leipzig in the January transfer window 2024. As per Fabrizio Romano, the German’s loan deal comes with a €17 million buy option.
Spurs have had numerous injury issues this season. Moreover, captain and top-scorer Son Heung-min is currently away with South Korea for the AFC Asian Cup. If they reach the finals, Son could miss up to five games with Tottenham.
Hence, the north London side has brought in Werner to strengthen their attack. The attacker previously made 89 appearances with Chelsea, contributing 23 goals and 21 assists.
Werner, however, started just four games across competitions for RB Leipzig this season before his move to Spurs.