Nine Expensive signings of January 2021 transfer window

Liverpool and Arsenal keen to sign RB Salzburg's Dominik Szoboszlai

The Covid-19 pandemic, as expected, had its toll on the transfer market, with several clubs struggling to make a big impact in the January transfer window. However, there was still room for some eye-catching transfers – most of them happened in the English top-flight – and here we look at some of the expensive signings in January.

Amad Diallo 

Manchester United were able to get their hands at Amad Diallo after months of speculations. The Ivorian teenager has been signed from Atalanta for a fee worth 37 million pounds, although he has only made few appearances in the Italian top-flight. United decided to pursue the 19-year-old after learning that their long-time target and Borussia Dortmund winger wouldn’t come at an easy cost last summer.

Said Benrahma

West Ham made the signing of Said Benrahma from Brentford a permanent one for a fee around 20m pounds. The Algerian joined the Hammers on loan in October and is yet to make his mark in the Premier League.

Sebastian Haller

Ajax surprised everyone by signing Sebastian Haller from West Ham for around 20m pounds, half the transfer fee Hammers paid Frankfurt for his transfer. Despite huge expectations, the 26-year-old failed to replicate the goal-scoring form he had in Bundesliga seasons ago.

Dominik Szobszlai

Arsenal dealt a heavy blow when they learned that their target Dominik Szobszlai would be moving RB Leipzig after an impressive couple of seasons at RB Salzburg. The Hungarian, indeed, was on the transfer radar of Europe’s elite clubs but he instead stayed grounded and chose Leipzig as his next destination, with the Germans paying a fee of 18m pounds.

Krepin Diatta

Diatta was the expensive signing of Ligue 1 in the January transfer window, with Monaco shelling out 18 million pounds for his transfer from Club Brugge. The 21-year-old had flourished in the Belgian top-flight earlier this season.

Nicolo Rovella

Juventus look to have made an excellent business by signing Genoa prospect Nicolo Rovella for 16m pounds. The 19-year-old will arrive in Turin in the summer.

Morgan Sanson

Aston Villa have added another talented midfielder to their ranks in the form of Morgan Samson, whom they signed from Marseille for 15.5 million pounds.

Paulinho 

Sporting CP snapped up Paulinho from rival club Braga in a transfer fee worth 14.4 million pounds. The 28-year-old hit an impressive tally of 17 goals and 4 assists in the Portuguese top-flight last season.

Pedro

Brazilian striker Pedro had a fleeting stint at Fiorentina, making only four appearances last season. The 23-year has now made his move to Flamengo permanently for 12.6 million pounds.

PlayersClubsFee
Amad DialloManchester United£37m
Said BenrahmaWest Ham£20.8m
Sebastian HallerAjax£20.25m
Dominik SzoboszlaiRB Leipzig£18m
Krepin DiattaMonaco£18m
Nicolo RovellaJuventus£16.2m
Morgan SansonAston Villa£15.5m
PaulinhoSporting CP£14.4m
PedroFlamengo£12.6m