Transfer Window Power Rankings: 10 best signings of January

The 2025 January transfer window is yet to catch alight, although a number of intriguing deals have taken place already.

Clubs across world football were unusually reserved during the 2024 winter window and that trend has continued this year amid concerns over Financial Fair Play regulations.

However, several big-money deals have been confirmed, while a number of high-profile stars have been tipped to secure late transfers before Deadline Day.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through our list of the 10 best transfers of the 2025 January window.

READ MORE: Premier League January transfers 2025 – All the Done Deals

10. Enzo Le Fee – Loan (Roma to Sunderland)

Enzo Le Fee was linked with a number of Premier League clubs following a stellar 2022-23 campaign at Lorient, but he joined Stade Rennais instead, before moving to AS Roma last summer.

The Frenchman has struggled for game time since arriving in Italy and he joined Sunderland on loan on 10 January.

The Black Cats are chasing promotion back to the Premier League after an eight-year absence and Le Fee’s technical quality could play a key role in their bid to challenge the likes of Leeds United and Burnley.

READ MORE: The 10 biggest spenders of the January transfer window

9. Emmanuel Agbadou – €20m (Reims to Wolves)

Wolves have endured a tricky campaign and Vitor Pereira will be hoping the arrival of Emmanuel Agbadou will shore up his defensive unit at Molineux.

The former Reims defender was highly-rated during his time in Ligue 1, with his ball-playing ability of particular note.

However, his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €7m, so Wolves have been forced to overpay in order to acquire his services mid-season.

8. Jaden Philogene – €23.7m (Aston Villa to Ipswich)

Jaden Philogene emerged as one of the EFL’s most promising youngsters last season, with the England U21 international bagging 12 goals and six assists in 32 Championship appearances for Hull City.

Aston Villa opted to activate their buy-back clause in July, however he only started two Premier League matches during the first half of the campaign amid significant competition for places.

After registering their interest over the summer, Ipswich Town have finally landed the winger, although Philogene’s €23.7m price tag is slightly steep.

7. Ridle Baku – €4.5m (Wolfsburg to RB Leipzig)

Ridle Baku enjoyed a prolific four-and-a-half year stint at Wolfsburg as he established himself as one of Europe’s most dangerous wing-back specialists across his time at the club.

RB Leipzig acted quickly to snap him up for a relatively cheap fee of €4.5m, with Baku set to become a free agent when his Wolfsburg contract expired at the end of June.

The Dutchman may need time to adapt to life at Leipzig, but he could develop into a bargain signing for the Bundesliga giants.

6. Mika Biereth – €13m (Sturm Graz to Monaco)

Mika Biereth was never given a chance in Arsenal’s first-team, but he proved himself at Sturm Graz and has fully earned his €13m January move to AS Monaco.

The Denmark U21 international impressed during his loan spell in Austria last season and after scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in 25 games at the start of this campaign, Monaco had seen enough to bring him to Ligue 1.

He will be required to fight off significant competition for places at Monaco, but Biereth is a very talented young forward and he could turn into a smart signing.

5. Donyell Malen – €25m (Borussia Dortmund to Aston Villa)

Donyell Malen isn’t quite the consistent forward that Aston Villa fans may be hoping for, however he can be a terrific player on his day and Unai Emery could be the man to extract the best form of his career.

The Netherlands international has left Dortmund with 39 goals in 132 games for the club, and he will be expected to play a key role at Villa Park.

Malen is capable of playing across the forward line and his versatility could be a huge asset for Emery.

4. Brice Samba – €14m (Lens to Rennes)

Brice Samba has been one of Ligue 1’s best goalkeepers since leaving Nottingham Forest to join RC Lens in 2022 and he is expected to play a prominent role at Stade Rennais.

The France international was Lens’ captain, but he pushed to leave the club and Rennes secured a €14m transfer on 8 January.

Samba is an excellent shot-stopper and Rennes have picked up one of the most underrated goalkeepers in Europe.

3. Antonin Kinsky – €16.5m (Slavia Prague to Tottenham)

Tottenham Hotspur were in desperate need of a new goalkeeper at the start of January, following an injury to Guglielmo Vicario and an illness to Fraser Forster.

Antonin Kinsky was plucked from the Czech Republic top flight for a fee of €16.5m, and he has already proven his worth in north London with a string of impressive performances – most notably on his debut versus Liverpool.

Furthermore, Vicario could struggle to work his way back into the starting XI if Kinsky’s form continues.

2. Maxence Caqueret – €15m (Lyon to Como)

Maxence Caqueret was once linked with the biggest clubs in Europe, including Arsenal and Barcelona, but he has made a surprise move to Serie A strugglers Como in their bid to avoid relegation.

The former France U21 international has been tipped to leave Lyon for several years and Como have picked up a player once considered to be one of Europe’s most talented midfielders.

At €15m, Caqueret could emerge as a steal and Como could turn a tidy profit if they ever decide to sell the Frenchman.

1. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – €75m (Napoli to PSG)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is undoubtedly the best signing of the January transfer window so far.

Paris Saint-Germain have spent €75m to sign him from Napoli and considering his talent, and the fact it’s a mid-season deal, that price is incredible value.

Kvaratskhelia is one of the best players in European football and PSG’s hopes of eventually ending their Champions League drought have improved dramatically thanks to this piece of business.