Premier League’s Top 5 January Transfers of 2026 - Ranked
1. Antoine Semenyo - Bournemouth to Man City
Premier League clubs splashed out a combined total of £397m on new player purchases, and standing at the top of that list is Antoine Semenyo, who left Bournemouth to join Manchester City for a fee of £62.5m.
While that may seem like a staggering amount, it’s worth noting that Man United coughed up £62.5m for Matheus Cunha and £65m for Bryan Mbeumo in the summer, while Arsenal paid £60m to secure the services of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.
Since arriving at the Etihad on January 9, Semenyo is already starting to show why that sum may prove to actually be a bargain, having already provided five goal contributions in his first five games for the Citizens, scoring four and assisting one. In the EPL alone, he has scored more than Cunha and Eze combined this season.
2. Marc Guehi - Crystal Palace to Man City
Indeed, we feel Pep Guardiola’s side have made the best purchases in the January transfer window, and signing Marc Guehi, one of the highest-rated centre-backs in the world, could prove an absolute masterstroke for the Sky Blues.
At face value, it may seem odd to have spent £20m on a player who had just six months left on his contract at Selhurst Park before becoming a free agent. However, what that amount got City is an England international that has over a decade of playing at the highest level ahead of him, while it also took Liverpool, one of City’s biggest rivals, out the running to snap him up on a free.
3. Oscar Bobb - Man City to Fulham
On to Fulham, and bringing in Oscar Bobb feels like a very shrewd signing by the Cottagers. Bobb was on the verge of cementing his place in the Man City lineup in 2024 but suffered a broken leg and rapidly fell in the pecking order of Pep Guardiola.
During his time on the sidelines, the 22-year-old was forced to watch Omar Marmoush, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki all brought into the club as his potential replacement. With Jeremy Doku also still at the Emirates, breaking back into a regular starter slot would have been a massive ask.
Fulham had to spend £27m plus concede a percentage of any future fee in order to secure his signature, but given his age and ability, Bobb could easily repay his new employers' faith with interest if he can rediscover the type of form he showed just a couple of years ago.
4. Adama Traore - Fulham to West Ham United
The final two players on our list may split consensus, but we’re adding Adama Traore at number four, given what he brings to West Ham United. The Spaniard was almost unplayable at times during his rise at Wolves, and he now has the chance to reunite with the manager he thrived under in Black Country, Nuno Espirito Santo.
Traore also cost the Irons a mere £1m, making him worthwhile for both clubs since he went to Craven Cottage on a free in 2023. If Santo can get the rapid winger back to his best, this could go down as one of the shrewdest EPL signings in recent years.
5. Jorgen Strand Larsen - Wolves to Crystal Palace
Arguably, the biggest shock on deadline day was seeing Crystal Palace sign Jorgen Strand Larsen for a staggering £43m plus a possible £5m in add-ons despite the Norwegian forward enduring a torrid season at Molineux, scoring just one goal in 22 EPL games.
However, this felt like a transfer that Palace had to make given their high-profile departures in recent times, partly to bolster their attacking line, which has been lacking recently, while also giving Oliver Glasner something to work with for the rest of the season.
While there is no denying that Larsen has performed well below expectations this season, there is a case to be made that he has been playing with a team that severely lacks class at the moment, and with the likes of Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz to provide him with supply, he could end the campaign strongly.
