Top 10 most expensive January 2024 transfers: Barcelona's Vitor Roque takes top spot

It was an incredibly quiet January transfer window with very few clubs strengthening their squads with big-money signings. The lack of spending was particularly noticeable amongst English Premier League clubs with spending down significantly on previous seasons. Premier League clubs spent €121 million this January, down 85% from 2023 (€843m) and 65% from 2022 (€345m). 

The biggest factor behind the huge decrease in spending is the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules - which are similar to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations. Remarkably, clubs in Ligue 1 in France (€190.9m) and Série A in Brazil (€147m) outspend English top-flight clubs this January, which emphasises how restricted clubs were in their ability to spend. Of the traditional ‘big six’ clubs in England, only Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City completed a permanent senior signing with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea - the biggest spenders last January - failing to add to their squads. While it wasn’t the most exciting window, some big deals still went through and we’ve compiled the top 10 most expensive transfers of January 2024. 

Top 10 biggest transfers in January 2024 

Barcelona spent €40m to secure the services of Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque in July but the Spanish giants brought forward his arrival to January. The 18-year-old has already made an impact in La Liga, scoring his first Barca goal to secure a 1-0 win over Osasuna on deadline day. The attacker is regarded as one of the most talented youngsters on the planet and Barcelona will hope he can be the figurehead for an exciting new era. Bayern Munich targeted a new right-back in January following Benjamin Pavard’s departure to Inter Milan in the summer. Bayern were rebuffed in their attempts to sign Kieran Trippier from Newcastle but they eventually signed Sacha Boey from Galatasaray. Boey impressed in Ligue 1 before moving to Turkey and he will hope completing a move to one of the biggest clubs in Europe can lead to his France debut. 

Radu Drăgușin’s move to Tottenham Hotspur was the third most expensive transfer in January and the biggest Premier League deal. The 21-year-old excelled for Genoa after leaving Juventus and deservedly earned his €25 mil move to Spurs. Eljif Elmas’ €24m move to RB Lepizig and Renan Lodi’s departure from Marseille for Al-Hilal completes the top five biggest moves in January. Adam Wharton’s stunning displays for Blackburn Rovers earned the attention of Manchester United and Tottenham but Crystal Palace secured his signature for an initial fee of €21.1m. PSG have become synonymous with big-money signings across the last decade but they’ve shifted their recruitment policy recently and they signed two talented young Brazlian’s in January. Lucas Beraldo arrived from São Paulo and Gabriel Moscardo from Corinthians - both for €20m. Arthur Vermeeren is a tremendous young talent and he joined Atlético Madrid for €18m, while Marcos Leonardo moved to Benfica for the same price to complete the top ten.

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