The January 2026 transfer window closes today, wrapping up a month in which clubs across Europe and South America reshaped their squads ahead of the season’s second half. While this window has been quieter than usual, several noteworthy deals still made headlines. Here’s a look at the 10 most-expensive transfers, counting down from the costliest.
1. Antoine Semenyo – €72 million
Manchester City won the race for Antoine Semenyo, beating several top clubs to sign the Bournemouth forward for €72 million, making him the priciest player of the window. The 26-year-old Ghanaian impressed in the first half of the season with 10 goals and 3 assists in 21 appearances, and he has already begun scoring for City after his move.
2. Lucas Paquetá – €42 million
Lucas Paquetá returned to his boyhood club Flamengo, who paid €42 million to sign him from West Ham United. The move also made Paquetá the most expensive signing in Brazilian football history, breaking a record set only days earlier. The midfielder made 139 appearances for West Ham, registering 23 goals and 15 assists.
3. Conor Gallagher – €40 million
Conor Gallagher’s spell in La Liga ended as Atlético Madrid sold him to Tottenham Hotspur for €40 million. Gallagher, who joined Atlético from Chelsea in 2024, played 77 matches for the Spanish side, scoring seven goals. His return to London reunites him with Premier League football after two seasons abroad.
4. Brennan Johnson – €40 million
Crystal Palace shattered their transfer record by signing Brennan Johnson from Tottenham for €40 million. Johnson scored in last season’s Europa League final, helping Spurs end a 17-year trophy drought, but struggled for playing time this season. The 24-year-old now becomes the most expensive signing in Palace’s history.
5. Oscar Bobb – €31.2 million
Oscar Bobb’s Manchester City journey came to an end as Fulham purchased the academy graduate for €31.2 million. Bobb made 47 senior appearances, contributing three goals and four assists. Fulham see the 22-year-old as a long-term creative asset.
6. Taty Castellanos – €29 million
West Ham were busy this winter, also signing Argentine striker Taty Castellanos from Lazio for €29 million. The 27-year-old featured 98 times for Lazio, scoring 22 goals and supplying 16 assists. He strengthens West Ham’s frontline as they push for European football.
7. Rayan – €28.5 million
Bournemouth added Brazilian teenager Rayan from Vasco da Gama for €28.5 million. The 19-year-old scored 20 goals in 57 matches for Vasco in 2025. Seen as a potential successor to Semenyo, Rayan arrives as one of Brazil’s brightest attacking prospects.
8. Matteo Guendouzi – €28 million
French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi left Lazio for Fenerbahçe in a €28 million deal. The 26-year-old has had an eventful career—after emerging at Lorient, he moved to Arsenal, enjoyed loan stints in Germany and France, joined Marseille permanently, and later Lazio. Now he begins a new chapter in Turkey.
9. Gerson – €27 million
Cruzeiro completed one of the biggest domestic transfers in Brazil’s history by signing Gerson from Zenit for €27 million. The Brazilian midfielder briefly became the most expensive signing in Brazilian football before Paquetá’s arrival at Flamengo surpassed him.
10. Lorenzo Lucca – €26 million
Napoli signed towering striker Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese for €26 million, then immediately loaned him to Premier League side Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season. Forest hold an option to buy the 6’7″ forward this summer, making his long-term future an intriguing storyline.
11. Pablo & Marc Guéhi – €23 million each
Two players jointly rank outside the top 10 but were notable moves:
- Pablo, the Portuguese-born Brazilian striker who scored 10 goals in 13 league matches for Gil Vicente, joined West Ham for €23 million.
- Marc Guéhi moved to Manchester City from Crystal Palace for the same fee. With his contract expiring this summer, Palace opted to sell their captain rather than lose him for free—especially after his failed Liverpool move in 2025.
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