The world’s biggest transfer in the 2025 January transfer window

The January window is not known for being full of excitement. The biggest mover last year There was a kid who joined Barcelona who is now on loan at Real Betis. Not a single transfer in 2024. A list of the 20 biggest deals of January.

But that could all change in 2025 with both Manchester United and Manchester City needing to arrest some pretty terrifying form.

The world’s largest migrations in January 2025 are:

1) Siko Fofana (Al Nasr to Rennes) – £16.6m
A year on loan with Steven Gerrard in Al-Nasser agreement was more than enough for the Ivorian midfielder, who jumped at the chance to return to France with the Ligue Un mid-tablers. Did he not hear Ronaldo, the world’s highest paid footballer, describe the Saudi league as stronger than the PSG parade?

2) Paulinho (Atletico-MG to Palmeiras) – £15m
No, not that Paulinho. Or that one. But the one-capped Brazilian striker and former Bayer Leverkusen flop has joined the Brazilian giants for a tidy fee just two years after returning to Brazil on a free transfer.

3) Kevin Denkey (Bridge Circle in Cincinnati) – £12.7m
This is the MLS transfer record for the Togolese international striker (full name: Ahoueke Steeve Kévin Denkey) who was the top scorer of the 2023/24 Belgian Pro League.

4) Diego Gomes (Inter Miami to Brighton) – £10.8m
Following in the footsteps of Moises Caicedo and Alexis McAlister comes the Paraguayan midfielder from South America who can play as an 8, a 10 or on either wing. Chelsea will see…

5) Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven to San Diego) – £10m
The Mexican veteran, still 29, is the first named player for the new MLS team after winning the second of two Dutch titles with PSV.

6) Facundo Torres (Orlando to Palmeiras) – £9.5m
Another big-money signing for the Brazilian club, this time reuniting the Uruguayan international with the Joaquin Pacres.

7) Gift Orban (Olympic Lyon to Hoffenheim) – £7.5m
Just one year and five goals since joining the French club, the Nigerian striker is on his way back to his fourth European country.

8) Jefinho (Olympic Lyonnais to Botafogo) – £4.4m
Two years after joining Lyon from Botafogo and a year after returning to Brazil on loan, Little Jeff made the move permanent for a lower fee.

9) Carlos Palacios (Colo-Col to Boca Juniors) – £3.8m
It’s been a big month so far for the South Americans…Palacios is a Chilean international. No relation to Wilson.

10) Hercules (Fortaleza to Fluminense) – £3.8m
Another Brazilian, Hercules, has fulfilled his dream by signing for the Rio giants.