Winners and Losers of the 2023 January transfer window

The mid-season January transfer window has closed shut for 2023. This period offers clubs a vital 31 days to try and strengthen their squads heading into the second half of their campaigns. There were some huge deals completed this month, with some really taking us by surprise.

So, here are our picks for the biggest winners and losers of the 2023 transfer window!

Winner – Arsenal

Arsenal are arguably the surprise package of the 2022-23 Premier League season. The Gunners are in excellent form this campaign, as Mikel Arteta’s side are clear at the top of the table. The North London club made some shrewd acquisitions in the Summer transfer window and they continued that this month.

Exciting Belgian winger Leandro Trossard has transferred to The Emirates Stadium for a modest £21m, an absolute steal given his form for Brighton. Similarly, Jorginho has crossed the divide from Chelsea to Arsenal for a bargain £12m to help solidify the defence.

Further cover has been added in the form of young Polish defender Jakub Kiwior, who joins from Serie A side Spezia for £17.6m. Arteta will be disappointed not to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton, after the Seagulls rejected two bids from Arsenal, the second totalling £70m.

However, while that isn’t good, Arsenal haven’t lost any major players during this window. With how they’ve been performing this season, that’s perhaps their biggest victory this January.

Loser – Everton

Frankly, Everton fans should be used to losing by now, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise to the blue half of Merseyside. The Toffees have endured a miserable season so far, as they’re battling against relegation for a second successive season.

Anthony Gordon has jumped ship to Newcastle United and Everton haven’t been able to fill that gap. In fact, Everton haven’t signed any player of note during January.

In fairness, that hasn’t been down to the lack of trying. Everton have been heavily linked with dozens of players, but have lost out on all of them. Conor Gallagher rejected Everton, and Kamaldeen Sulemana preferred Southampton to Merseyside.

Sheffield United rejected offers for Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye. Deals for Sheraldo Becker and Andre Ayew never materialised. Despite all of this though, the signing of Sean Dyche as manager will determine whether Everton are still a Premier League club come May more than any player.

Winner – Bayern Munich

Admittedly, it’s hard for Bayern Munich to “lose” in a transfer window. That’s down to how far ahead their squad is in terms of depth and talent compared to their Bundesliga rivals. We have to give the Bavarians credit for their swift action during this window, though.

FC Hollywood stole the show early on, on Deadline Day, by sealing a loan deal for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo. The Portuguese defender has allegedly left the Etihad due to a clash with manager Pep Guardiola, although this has been denied.

The suddenness of the deal and the talent of Cancelo though, tells a different story. This is one that makes more sense when you realise the Reds of Germany can purchase Cancelo at the end of the season for €70m.

When you also throw Yann Sommer’s €8m move from Borussia Monchengladbach and Daley Blind’s move for free, it’s been a good window for a Bayern side that could challenge for a seventh UEFA Champions League title in May.

Loser – Chelsea

This may seem odd given that Chelsea spent the most out of any side in the world in January, but let us explain. A bit like Barcelona, Chelsea have thrown everything they have into this transfer window, spending an obscene amount of money, even by their standards.

The West London club has spent an eye-watering £176m on six players, at the time of writing. That is without add-ons as well, which takes Mykhailo Mudryk’s acquisition up to almost £100m by itself.

Even that, though, isn’t as high as the fee that’s to be paid for Enzo Fernandez, which would break the British record. At the time of writing, Chelsea are in talks with Benfica to sign the Argentine for £105m, but how and when this money is paid is proving to be a sticking point.

This shows how precarious a tightrope Chelsea are walking on when it comes to Financial Fair Play.

If The Blues end up sealing a top four place come the end of the season, then this window will be marked as a success. However, if they don’t, and given the form of Manchester United and Newcastle, that is a very large possibility, the Stamford Bridge club could be in serious trouble like Juventus are now.

Mudryk, also, hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory after he was captured using a racial slur in a TikTok video. In a power play by new owner Todd Boehly that is meant to increase the stock of Chelsea on the global stage, faux pas like these will not go down well.

Winner – Nottingham Forest

At this point, half of the population of Nottingham plays for the Tricky Trees! Nottingham Forest signed a mind-boggling 22 players in the Summer and have added more this January. After taking their time to bed the new two teams-worth of players into the club, The Reds have slowly climbed the table to 13th.

While they aren’t safe from relegation by any means, the additions made this month should sure up Steve Cooper’s side.

Chris Wood (loan) has been an effective striker for both Burnley and Newcaslte in the Premier League and will offer another option up top for Cooper’s side. Brazilian midfielder Danilo (£16m) should be a prospect for the future, with Jonjo Shelvey (loan) shoring up the midfield now.

There have also been strong rumours of PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas joining Forest, but as of now, this hasn’t quite happened yet.