The January 2026 transfer window slammed shut on Monday evening with Premier League clubs once again flexing their financial muscle, responsible for seven of the world’s ten most expensive signings during the mid-season market.
Manchester City led the way, pushing their 12-month spending to £425 million across 15 players, as they chase silverware on multiple fronts while under pressure to maintain their dominance in English football.
Here are the top 10 most expensive Premier League signings from the January 2026 window:
1. Antoine Semenyo – Bournemouth to Manchester City (£64m)
The Ghana international joins Pep Guardiola’s side on a five-and-a-half-year contract, becoming City’s marquee January signing. The 26-year-old had been the hottest property in the Premier League going into the window, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all showing interest.
City agreed a deal with Bournemouth outside of Semenyo’s £65m release clause at £62.5m, plus performance-related bonuses worth £1.5m and a 10 per cent sell-on clause. The forward, who scored 10 Premier League goals in the first half of the season, has already made an immediate impact for the Sky Blues.
2. Brennan Johnson – Tottenham to Crystal Palace (£35m)
Crystal Palace completed the club-record signing of Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson, surpassing the £32m the Eagles paid Liverpool for Christian Benteke in the summer of 2016. The 24-year-old Wales international signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Selhurst Park.
Johnson was Spurs’ top scorer last season with 18 goals in all competitions, including the winning goal in the Europa League final against Manchester United. However, he fell down the pecking order under new manager Thomas Frank, making just eight starts in the Premier League and Champions League this season.
3. Conor Gallagher – Atlético Madrid to Tottenham (£34m)
Tottenham completed the signing of England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £34m. The 25-year-old signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with Spurs after spending just 17 months in the Spanish capital.
Spurs ramped up their interest after Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled out for most of the season with a hamstring injury. Gallagher beat out competition from Aston Villa, who had approached Atletico about an initial loan deal.
4. Valentín Castellanos – Lazio to West Ham (£26m)
West Ham moved quickly to bolster their attacking options as they battle relegation. The Argentina striker joined from Lazio after the Hammers loaned out Niclas Füllkrug to AC Milan. Castellanos has already opened his account for his new club, scoring an extra-time winner against QPR in the FA Cup.
5. Rayan – Vasco da Gama to Bournemouth (£24.7m + add-ons)
The Cherries could be liable for an additional £5.6million in potential add-ons after taking the 19-year-old forward who scored 20 goals in 57 appearances for Vasco in 2025. The Brazilian prospect signed a contract until 2031 as Bournemouth looked to replace departed star Semenyo.
6. Pablo Felipe – Gil Vicente to West Ham (£22m)
West Ham doubled down on their January spending by bringing in the defender from Portuguese side Gil Vicente. The signing represents part of the Hammers’ desperate push to avoid relegation, sitting five points from safety at the time of the window’s closure.
7. Marc Guéhi – Crystal Palace to Manchester City (£20m)
Guéhi will move for an initial fee of £20 million ($27m) plus add-ons. The 25-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half year contract which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2031. The England international centre-back was a bargain for City, having been valued much higher when a Liverpool move collapsed last summer.
Palace captain Guéhi’s departure was softened by their acquisition of Johnson, showing strategic planning despite losing a key defender.
8. Oscar Bobb – Manchester City to Fulham (£27m)
In a rare sale for Manchester City during the window, the Norwegian forward moved to Fulham as the Cottagers sought to replace Adama Traoré, who departed for West Ham. The 21-year-old represents a significant investment for Fulham as they look to consolidate their position in mid-table.
9. Jorgen Strand Larsen – Wolverhampton to Crystal Palace (£43m-£48m)
Palace broke their transfer record for a second time in the same window, spending big on the Norwegian striker. The Eagles moved forward with the deal despite initial concerns that it depended on Jean-Philippe Mateta’s departure, which ultimately didn’t materialize.
10. Tammy Abraham – Beşiktaş to Aston Villa (£18.2m)
The English striker completed an emotional return to Villa Park, where he previously scored 26 league goals during the 2018-19 season. Abraham’s arrival was part of Villa’s busy window that also saw Donyell Malen depart for Roma in a swap deal arrangement.
Market Dominance
Crystal Palace (£83m) and Manchester City (£84m) spent more than all 20 La Liga teams combined. The Spanish clubs spent just £65.15m, of which £30m was spent by Atletico Madrid on Ademola Lookman alone.
The window highlighted the Premier League’s continued financial supremacy in world football, with English clubs accounting for the vast majority of big-money moves. Despite the spending spree, several top clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle made no additions during the window.
Manchester City’s aggressive business, bringing in both Semenyo and Guéhi within days of each other, underscores their determination to maintain dominance despite ongoing off-field challenges. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s record-breaking spending signals their ambition as they compete in European competition for the first time in the club’s history.