3 of the Best January Buys of All-Time

03 Jan 2025 ScoreWaves Staff view

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The January transfer window often gets a bad reputation. It’s seen as a period for desperation moves and stopgap solutions. However, some clubs have managed to pull off masterstrokes in this midseason window, signing players who went on to change the trajectory of their team. So, let’s dive into three of the best January transfers of all time.

1) Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool (2018)

Liverpool’s attack under Jürgen Klopp was already frightening by the end of 2017, but their defensive frailties were holding them back. Klopp knew his side needed a commanding presence at the back, and Liverpool made their move, signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for £75 million—a world-record fee for a defender at the time.

Van Dijk didn’t just improve Liverpool’s defense; he transformed it. His aerial dominance, positional awareness, and calmness under pressure brought an unprecedented level of stability to Klopp’s side. In his first half-season, he played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final.

The following season, Van Dijk’s influence reached new heights. Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, and his performances earned him the PFA Player of the Year award and a second-place finish in the Ballon d’Or voting. In 2019/20, Van Dijk was instrumental in ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for a league title, anchoring a defense that conceded just 33 goals in the Premier League.

Van Dijk’s legacy is already cemented. He’s widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, and his signing is often credited as the final piece in Liverpool’s transformation into one of Europe’s elite teams.

2) Luis Suárez to Liverpool (2011)

In January 2011, Liverpool were in turmoil. The club was struggling in the Premier League, and their attack lacked the firepower to compete with England’s elite. Under new ownership and with Kenny Dalglish back in charge, the Reds needed a spark. They made waves by selling Fernando Torres to Chelsea for a British-record fee but used that money wisely to sign two players: Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez. While Carroll’s move didn’t pan out, Suárez’s signing for £22.8 million from Ajax proved to be transformative.

From the moment Suárez stepped onto the pitch, it was clear Liverpool had unearthed a gem. His technical brilliance, relentless work rate, and eye for goal electrified Anfield. In the 2013/14 season, Suárez produced one of the greatest individual campaigns in Premier League history, scoring 31 goals and providing 12 assists in just 33 games. He led Liverpool to the brink of a long-awaited league title, only to fall short in dramatic fashion.

Suárez’s impact wasn’t just about goals. His passion and drive revitalized Liverpool, setting the foundation for their eventual resurgence under Jürgen Klopp. While his tenure wasn’t without controversy, his contribution to Liverpool’s history remains undeniable. He left for Barcelona in 2014 for a whopping £75 million, having firmly established himself as one of the best players in the world.

3) Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United (2020)

By January 2020, Manchester United was searching for answers. The club had been inconsistent under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and their midfield lacked creativity. United had been linked with Bruno Fernandes for months, and after protracted negotiations, they finally secured his services from Sporting CP for an initial £47 million. In hindsight, the Red Devils paid peanuts for a player who would go on to become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League for seasons to come.

Fernandes hit the ground running in a way few January signings ever have. His debut against Wolves gave a glimpse of what was to come, but it was his immediate influence in the following months that turned United’s season around. Bruno contributed 8 goals and 7 assists in 14 Premier League games in the 2019/20 campaign, helping United climb to third place and secure Champions League qualification.

Beyond the numbers, Fernandes brought leadership, confidence, and a winning mentality to the squad. His ability to dictate games, combined with his knack for scoring crucial penalties and long-range screamers, made him the heartbeat of United’s attack. Over the next two seasons, Fernandes’ output remained extraordinary, and while United haven’t yet returned to their glory days, his arrival marked a turning point in their journey toward stability during Ole’s tenure.

Honorable Mentions:

While these three signings stand out, January has produced other gems:

Nemanja Vidić and Patrice Evra to Manchester United (2006): Both became key figures in United’s dominant defense under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Philippe Coutinho to Liverpool (2013): Signed for just £8.5 million, Coutinho became a talisman for Liverpool before his big-money move to Barcelona.
Dele Alli to Tottenham Hotspur (2015): Though technically signed in January, Alli joined Spurs the following summer and quickly became a star.