Which Premier League team had the best January transfer window?

A British record deal
A British record deal / Julian Finney/GettyImages
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A lot of money was spent in the Premier League during the January transfer window.

£780m of the £2.8bn that has been spent over the course of the season to be exact.

But the question on the lips of everyone is who did the best business? Who did some savvy dealings and who paid way over the odds to land anyone they could get their hands on?

Here's how the 20 Premier League teams fared spending all that money.


AFC Bournemouth

Gary O'Neil
Gary O'Neil received a glut of new signings / Clive Rose/GettyImages

In

Out

  • James Hill (DF) - Hearts - loan
  • Jamal Lowe (FW) - QPR - loan
  • Emiliano Marcondes (MF) - Nordsjaelland - loan
  • Ferdinand Okoh (MF) - Dorchester - loan
  • Gavin Kilkenny (MF) - Charlton - loan
  • Siriki Dembele (FW) - Auxerre - loan

Bournemouth spent more money than anyone was really expecting this January - particularly on deadline day when they brought in Hamed Traore and Illia Zabarnyi for around £40m.

The former will be a consistently good performer for the club, while the latter - according to FM23 - could become one of the better defenders with the right training, mentoring and gametime (the three things needed on FM23 anyways).

Also they probably dodged a bullet by missing out on Nicolo Zaniolo.

Grade: B+


Arsenal

Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta strengthened well / Michael Regan/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Brooke Norton-Cuffy (DF) - Coventry - loan
  • Miguel Azeez (MF) - Wigan - loan
  • Arthur Okonkwo (GK) - Sturm Graz - loan
  • Ovie Ejeher (GK) - SJK Seinajoki - loan
  • Harry Clarke (DF) - Ipswich - undisclosed
  • Tom Smith (GK) - Colchester - loan
  • Marquinhos (FW) - Norwich - loan
  • Nathan Butler-Oyedeji (FW) - Accrington Stanley - loan
  • Omar Rekik (DF) - Wigan - loan
  • Albert Sambi Lokonga (MF) - Crystal Palace - loan
  • Cedric Soares (DF) - Fulham - loan

The Gunners needed some quality depth this winter, and they added exactly that.

Jorginho seems to be a particularly shrewd acquisition, with the midfielder adding winning experience to a youthful Arsenal team on the brink of Premier League glory.

Grade: A


Aston Villa

Unai Emery
Unai Emery is doing a fine job at Aston Villa / Bryn Lennon/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Cameron Archer (FW) - Middlesbrough - loan
  • Tyreik Wright (FW) - Plymouth - loan
  • Jhon Duran (FW) - Chicago Fire - loan
  • Frederic Guilbert (DF) Strasbourg - free transfer
  • Indiana Vassilev (FW) - St Louis City - undisclosed
  • Morgan Sanson (MF) - Strasbourg - loan
  • Danny Ings (FW) - West Ham - £15m
  • Jan Bednarek (DF) - Southampton - end of loan
  • Ludwig Augustinsson (DF) - Sevilla - end of loan
  • Louie Barry (FW) - Salford City - loan
  • Aaron Ramsey (MF) - Middlesbrough - loan
  • Marvelous Nakamba (MF) - Luton - loan

Alex Moreno has impressed since joining the club, while Jhon Duran is a long-term investment who could come good in the next few years.

They didn't do a whole lot but Unai Emery already has a decent squad at his disposal so they didn't really need to.

Grade: C+


Brentford

Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank didn't need too much in January / Richard Sellers/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Aaron Presley (FW) - Accrington Stanley - loan
  • Edon Pruti (DF) - Hartlepool - undisclosed
  • Mads Bech Sorensen (DF) - Groningen - loan
  • Ellery Balcombe (GK) - Bristol Rovers - loan
  • Tariqe Fosu (FW) - Rotherham - loan
  • Paris Maghoma (MF) - MK Dons - loan
  • Charlie Goode (DF) - Blackpool - loan
  • Sergi Canos (MF) - Olympiacos - loan

Kevin Schade is a fun signing. Keep an eye out for him throughout the rest of the season, he's a winger who takes on his man which is quite rare in today's game (even though it shouldn't be).

The Bees probably could've done with signing a striker in case the 'bad thing' happens with Ivan Toney before the end of the season though. They could be made to rue that lack of investment in a replacement number nine soon...

Grade: C


Brighton

Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton are in tremendous form / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

In

  • Facundo Buonanotte (MF) - Rosario Central - undisclosed
  • Jamie Mullins (MF) - Bohemians - undisclosed
  • Mark O'Mahony (FW) - Cork - undisclosed
  • Yasin Ayari (MF) - AIK - undisclosed

Out

  • Aaron Connolly (FW) - Hull - loan
  • Reda Khadra (FW) - Birmingham - loan
  • Leandro Trossard (FW) - Arsenal - undisclosed
  • Todd Miller (FW) - Doncaster - loan
  • Ed Turns (DF) - Leyton Orient - loan
  • James Beadle (GK) - Crewe - loan
  • Shane Duffy (DF) - Fulham - undisclosed
  • Antef Tsoungui (DF) - Lorient - loan
  • Lorent Tolaj (FW) - Dundee - loan
  • Jack Spong (MF) - Crawley - loan

Brighton lost one of their bigger ticket players to Arsenal but, thanks to Kaoru Mitoma being amazing they haven't exactly missed him at all.

Standing firm on Moises Caicedo was the right thing to do too. He's brilliant and will be difficult to replace when he eventually leaves Brighton - they didn't need that headache in January.

Grade: C+


Chelsea

Graham Potter
Graham Potter's Chelsea has undergone a radical overhaul / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

In

Out


Where do you even start?

How do you even go about this?

Let's just list the signings and give three word assessments I guess:

  • David Datro Fofana: An FM23 signing
  • Benoit Badiashile: Necessary and great
  • Andrey Santos: An FM23 signing
  • Joao Felix: An expensive loan
  • Mykhailo Mudryk: Fun but expensive
  • Noni Madueke: A confusing signing
  • Malo Gusto: One to watch
  • Enzo Fernandez: Most money ever

Grade: B


Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United - Premier League
There was deadline day business for Patrick Vieira / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Killian Phillips (MF) - Shrewsbury Town - loan
  • Jack Butland (GK) - Man Utd - loan
  • John-Kymani Gordon (FW) - Carlisle - loan
  • Malcolm Ebiowei (FW) - Hull - loan
  • Luke Plange (FW) - Lincoln City - loan
  • Ryan Bartley (DF) - Eastbourne Borough - loan
  • David Boateng (DF) - Dover Athletic - loan

Palace added some midfield depth with the deadline day signings of Naouirou Ahamada and Alberto Sambi Lokonga.

Good for them, maybe.

Grade: C-


Everton

Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche has a massive job on his hands / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages

In

None.

Out

  • Salomon Rondon (FW) - released
  • Tom Cannon (FW) - Preston - loan
  • Nathan Broadhead (FW) - Ipswich - undisclosed
  • Niels Nkounkou (DF) - Saint-Etienne - loan
  • Seb Quirk (MF) - Accrington Stanley - undisclosed
  • Anthony Gordon (FW) - Newcastle - £40m
  • Tyler Onyango (MF) - Forest Green Rovers - loan
  • Joe Anderson (DF) - Sunderland - undisclosed

The Toffees needed to do a lot.

They did nothing instead.

A disaster.

A complete disaster.

Grade: F


Fulham

marco silva
Marco Silva completed some smart business / Chloe Knott - Danehouse/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Anthony Knockaert (FW) - Huddersfield - loan
  • Ibane Bowat (DF) - Den Bosch - loan
  • Josh Onomah (MF) - Preston - free
  • Connor McAvoy (DF) - Partick Thistle - loan
  • Idris Odutayo (DF) - Maidenhead United - loan
  • Nathaniel Chalobah (MF) - West Brom - undisclosed

All their business was done on deadline day, and they made a few quietly shrewd signings to be fair to them.

Cedric is Premier League proven and Sasa Lukic is solid and consistent performer.

All in, quite good.

Grade: B


Leeds United

Jesse Marsch
Jesse Marsch added depth to Leeds' squad / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Alfie McCalmont (MF) - Carlisle - loan
  • Leo Hjelde (DF) - Rotherham - loan
  • Mateusz Klich (MF) - D.C. United - undisclosed
  • Max Dean (FW) - MK Dons - undisclosed
  • Cody Drameh (DF) - Luton - loan
  • Joe Gelhardt (FW) - Sunderland - loan
  • Diego Llorente (DF) - Roma - loan

Big big money was spent on Georginio Rutter, and he looks like he can be a great player in the long-term for Leeds. Max Wober has come in and impressed immediately.

What stops Leeds from getting a higher grade is the fact that they've signed Weston McKennie, who has been in utterly woeful form for Juventus in recent seasons.

Grade: B-


Leicester

Brendan Rogers
Brendan Rodgers welcomed January signings for once / Michael Regan/GettyImages

In

Out

  • George Hirst (FW) - Ipswich - loan
  • Ben Nelson (DF) - Doncaster - loan
  • Jakub Stolarczyk (GK) - Hartlepool - loan
  • Ayoze Perez (FW) - Real Betis - loan
  • Nathan Opoku (FW) - OH Leuven - loan
  • Marc Albrighton (MF) - West Brom - loan
  • Kasey McAteer (MF) - AFC Wimbledon - loan

Leicester City finally signed some players!

And they're all ok!

Harry Souttar seems like a particularly good signing considering the club's defensive woes this season.

Grade: C+


Liverpool

Juergen Klopp
Just the one signing for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool / Bryn Lennon/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Jake Cain (MF) - Swindon - undisclosed
  • Jarell Quansah (DF) - Bristol Rovers - loan
  • Luke Chambers (DF) - Kilmarnock - loan

One big signing in Cody Gakpo was definitely to keep Liverpool fans happy nor nearly enough to stop Liverpool's slide down the table.

The Reds needed to do a lot more.

Grade: D


Manchester City

Josep 'Pep' Guardiola
Did Pep Guardiola make a mistake letting Joao Cancelo leave? / Alex Livesey - Danehouse/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Nahuel Bustos (FW) - Talleres - loan
  • Morgan Rogers (FW) - Blackpool - loan
  • Josh Wilson-Esbrand (DF) - Coventry - loan
  • Liam Delap (FW) - Preston - loan
  • Kayky (FW) - Bahia - loan
  • Joao Cancelo (DF) - Bayern Munich - loan
  • Luke Mbete (DF) - Bolton - loan

They let one of their better players (Joao Cancelo) leave on loan and they now have a worse squad than they did at the start of January.

Bad.

Grade: E


Manchester United

Erik Ten Hag
Solid business again from Erik ten Hag and Manchester United / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Cristiano Ronaldo (FW) - released
  • Martin Dubravka (GK) - Newcastle - end of loan
  • Shola Shoretire (FW) - Bolton - loan
  • Charlie Savage (MF) - Forest Green Rovers - loan
  • Charlie McNeill (FW) - Newport County - loan
  • Di'Shon Bernard (DF) - Portsmouth - loan
  • Axel Tuanzebe (DF) - Stoke City - loan

Man Utd didn't make any particularly headline-grabbing signings in January, but the ones they did make seems like smart short-term investments.

Wout Weghorst adds a different dimension to the attack when needed, and Marcel Sabitzer will be an able replacement for the injured Christian Eriksen in midfield.

Grade: B


Newcastle United

Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe is loving life at Newcastle / Richard Sellers/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Joe White (MF) - Exeter - loan
  • Chris Wood (FW) - Nottingham Forest - loan
  • Garang Kuol (FW) - Hearts - loan
  • Niall Brookwell (MF) - Darlington - loan
  • Jonjo Shelvey (MF) - Nottingham Forest - undisclosed
  • Karl Darlow (GK) - Hull City - loan

Newcastle United didn't need to do a whole lot in the transfer window because, well, they're bloody brilliant.

They went out and signed Anthony Gordon for £40m though which seems like a gamble. He was decent last season, but awful this season. We'll have to see which Gordon they'll get.

Grade: C


Nottingham Forest

Steve Cooper
Just the 28 signings this season for Nottingham Forest / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Josh Bowler (FW) - Blackpool - loan
  • Dale Taylor (FW) - Burton - loan
  • Loic Mbe Soh (DF) - Guingamp - loan
  • Aaron Donnelly (DF) - Port Vale - loan
  • Ateef Konate (FW) - Oxford United - loan
  • Brandon Aguilera (MF) - Estoril - loan

Forest may have just secured their place in the Premier League with a wonderful deadline day.

Steve Cooper's men signed Felipe from Atletico Madrid, Jonjo Shelvey from Newcastle United and Keylor Navas from PSG - the latter being one of the better goalkeepers of the last decade.

Nice work.

Grade: A


Southampton

Nathan Jones
There was late business concluded by Nathan Jones' Southampton / Robin Jones/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Dynel Simeu (DF) - Morecambe - loan
  • Dan Nlundulu (FW) - Bolton - loan
  • Ryan Finnigan (MF) - Crewe - loan
  • Kazeem Olaigbe (FW) - Harrogate - loan
  • Thierry Small (DF) - St Mirren - loan
  • Lewis Payne (DF) - Eastleigh - loan

Fair play to Southampton, they've really given this transfer window a good go.

And they've signed some decent players during it.

Mislav Orsic seems like a particularly shrewd bit of business.

Grade: B+


Tottenham Hotspur

Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte's Spurs were forced to release Matt Doherty / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

In

Out


Tottenham Hotspur went out and signed their top target Pedro Porro on deadline day.

That's a W in our books.

Grade: B


West Ham United

David Moyes
David Moyes' new signing Danny Ings got injured straight away / Visionhaus/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Thierry Nevers (FW) - Bradford - loan
  • Craig Dawson (DF) - Wolves - undisclosed
  • Pierre Ekwah (MF) - Sunderland - undisclosed
  • Darren Randolph (GK) - Bournemouth - free transfer
  • Conor Coventry (MF) - Rotherham - loan
  • Will Greenidge (DF) - Colchester - undisclosed
  • Harrison Ashby (DF) - Newcastle - undisclosed

Danny Ings seemed like a really nice bit of business for West Ham...and then he got injured on his debut.

Things just aren't going the Hammers' way right now.

Grade: C-


Wolves

Julen Lopetegui
Julen Lopetegui has refreshed Wolves' squad / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

In

Out

  • Leo Bonatini (FW) - released
  • Goncalo Guedes (FW) - Benfica - loan
  • Theo Corbeanu (FW) - Arminia Bielefeld - loan
  • Leonardo Campana (FW) - Inter Miami - £2.3m
  • Fabio Silva (FW) - PSV Eindhoven - loan
  • Matija Sarkic (GK) - Stoke - loan
  • Chem Campbell (FW) - Wycombe - loan
  • Jackson Smith (GK) - Walsall - loan
  • Ki-Jana Hoever (DF) - Stoke - loan
  • Jackson Smith (GK) - Walsall - loan
  • Chem Campbell (MF) - Wycombe - loan

It was utterly soul-destroying watching Wolves during the first half of the season.

After signing Matheus Cunha, Pablo Sarabia and Joao Gomes, the second half of the season will likely not be as soul-destroying. Dare we say it might even be fun for Wolves fans.

Grade: B+