Top 10 Best January Signings in Premier League History

January is the winter transfer window for European football clubs. During this window, teams usually do not target marquee signings, they try to fill in squad gaps. But, there have been instances in the history of this league where January signings have re-defined the history of football clubs, helping them win the biggest trophies.

In this article, we explore the top 10 best Premier League January signings, analysing their careers and celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the league.

Ranking Factors

Performances – Their performances for the club during their tenure.

Longevity – How long they have represented the club.

Impact and importance to the squad – How important their role was and how much positive impact they’ve had.

10 Best Premier League January Signings

10. Nemanja Matic

Matic might be a surprise because he rarely makes the headlines in best premier league january signings. He was a class player, with no drama, and did great things for the Blues. The deep-lying midfielder quietly did his job, staying behind and protecting the defense which allowed N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas to do their thing. The Serb was one of the biggest reasons for Chelsea’s success, especially in their three title-winning campaigns.

9. Jermain Defoe

One of the most underrated strikers in the history of the league, Defoe lit it up in North London. One of the most naturally gifted finishers, Defoe was very consistent and often scored some incredible goals along the way. He is still the only player in Premier League history to score 5 in a single half, which he achieved in a 9-0 demolition of Wigan Athletic.

8. Gary Cahill

One of the best deals Chelsea has ever made, he was a bargain at £7 million. With nearly 300 appearances, 8 trophies, and the captain’s armband, Cahill became one of the best defenders to ever represent Chelsea. An integral to two Premier League titles and that famous Munich night, Cahill has been through thick and thin. A fantastic hard-working squad player with genuine leadership skills who gave it everything every day, he was absolutely adored by the fans at Stamford Bridge.

7. Philippe Coutinho

“The Little Magician” as he was fondly called, Coutinho did justice to that nickname. He pulled off incredible tricks to escape tricky situations, his ability on the ball was exceptional. .The Brazilian magician proved he was one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, showing his great dribbling, vision, long shots and genius plays every single game. There is a reason why he was amongst the very few £100M transfers, he was that good.

6. Bruno Fernandes

Bruno is one of the best january signings Premier League in the post-Sir Alex era where it worked exactly as it intended to. The Portuguese Magnifico was brought in to bring life to the tepid Manchester United attack and he did exactly what he was supposed to do. His ability to turn the tide around, his bulls-eye penalty skills, his impeccable work rate and fitness, and his eye for creating chances has made him one of the most irreplaceable players for Red Devils and with the new manager Rubem Amorim in the helm, the sky is the limit for the Portuguese midfielder.

5. Patrice Evra

Nicknamed “Uncle Pat,” he was a vital cog in Sir Alex’s defence. For a good 5 years, he was arguably the best left back in the world, maybe only second to Cole. A fantastic player who was vital in multiple Premier League title campaigns and also captained the club, it was a shame that his on-field performances were overshadowed by what he did off the pitch.

4. Andrew Cole

In 1995, Manchester United broke the British transfer record by signing Andrew Cole for £7m. He was worth every penny as he was extremely prolific, scoring goals for fun. He was a massive part of the 99 Man United side that won the treble. A real gent and tremendous striker, Cole is loved by everyone. It is unfortunate that despite being one of the best English strikers of all time, he rarely gets his flowers.

3. Luis Suarez

Suarez was a menace. The things he did on the pitch were unbelievable. Suarez had this different quality, the atmosphere lifted in the stadium whenever he got on the ball. Everybody knew Suarez could do something special, wherever he picked it up. It is still debated that he has the best individual season from a Premier League player, with 43 goal contributions in just 33 appearances. He was just on another level and was really unfortunate that he could not lift the Premier League title in his tenure with the Reds.

2. Virgil van Dijk

One of the greatest to wear the Liver bird on their chest, van Dijk is not just a Liverpool great but also arguably the best centreback in the history of the Premier League. Winning 8 major trophies so far, he completely transformed Liverpool’s defence along with those around him. He gives defenders around him confidence to attack which in turn gives midfielders the confidence to take a risk. This best January signings Premier League was the turning point of the Jurgen Klopp era and the team started to completely dominate on the pitch and lock horns with Manchester City.

1. Nemanja Vidic

Signed in 2006, Vidic is regarded as one of the best January signings Premier League ever in the January transfer window. He was instrumental in the UEFA Champions League success of Manchester United during 2008-2011, a period when the Red Devils consistently made it into the finals and also won it in 2008. He was also the key man at the back, especially his partnership with Rio Ferdinand which led to 3 consecutive titles from 2007 to 2009. He was the best in the league then, perhaps even in Europe, and will always be a United legend.