It’s notoriously difficult to conduct season-altering business in January. Many clubs aren’t keen on paying the premiums necessary to acquire impactful players in-season. Sellers, meanwhile, are hesitant to allow their best players to depart, both because it could harm their chances of reaching their targets for the remainder of the campaign and because it’s challenging to turn around and quickly find a suitable replacement in such a short period of time.
Nevertheless, there are still signings to be made, if the terms are right. With the January window opening this week, we’re teeing up the wheeling and dealing by presenting 50 intriguing players – excluding current free agents – who could be on the move over the next month.
| LEAGUE | WINDOW OPEN | DEADLINE DAY |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Jan. 1 | Feb. 3 |
| Bundesliga | Jan. 1 | Feb. 3 |
| Ligue 1 | Jan. 1 | Feb. 3 |
| La Liga | Jan. 2 | Feb. 3 |
| Serie A | Jan. 2 | Feb. 3 |
| MLS | Jan. 31 | April 23 |
Note: Estimated transfer values provided by transfermarkt.
Premier League 🏴
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal)
Age: 28
Position: Left-back/midfielder
Value: €30M
Now deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal – he’s played only 238 Premier League minutes this season – the Ukrainian has clearly become an expendable piece for Mikel Arteta, particularly since the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly. The Gunners could be looking to raise additional funds to help acquire a temporary replacement for injured star Bukayo Saka.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Age: 25
Position: Forward
Value: €50M
Brentford profile as your prototypical January seller. Firmly midtable, they should, in theory, be more amenable to offers than teams chasing a European berth or fighting to avoid relegation. Mbeumo, their leading scorer this season, would command a huge fee that the shrewd Bees could then immediately reinvest or stash away ahead of the summer.
Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)
Age: 21
Position: Left-back
Value: €28M
Some of England’s top clubs are badly in need of left-backs right now, which puts Kerkez in the spotlight. The energetic Hungarian, who just hired a new agent, is one of the key contributors on an ascendent Bournemouth side that continues to operate astutely in the transfer market. They probably already have a replacement lined up.
Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Age: 20
Position: Striker
Value: €40M
Ferguson hasn’t quite kicked on after exploding onto the Premier League scene in 2022-23, when he looked like the game’s next great prospect. The big Irishman has just one league goal in limited action so far this season. The raw talent remains undeniable, though, and a January move, even on loan, could reignite him.
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
Age: 28
Position: Left-back
Value: €20M
When it comes to Chelsea’s (gigantic) squad, Chilwell’s firmly on the periphery. He’s played a mere 45 minutes this season, and that came in a League Cup match against a fourth-tier opponent back in September. It might as well have been a friendly. He should be actively seeking a move away from Stamford Bridge in January.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea)
Age: 26
Position: Midfielder
Value: €28M
Another Chelsea player who simply isn’t going to see the pitch much this season. Dewsbury-Hall’s move to west London always looked like a curious one considering the overabundance of central midfielders at the club, and, somewhat unsurprisingly, he hasn’t been able to supplant any of Enzo Maresca’s recognized starters in that area.
Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)
Age: 27
Position: Forward/attacking midfielder
Value: €50M
Untimely injuries largely have derailed what should have been a prosperous move for both Chelsea and Nkunku. The Frenchman remains one of the most skilled players in the entire squad, but he’s fallen behind several other forwards in the pecking order and has to mostly settle for late-game minutes off the bench.
Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Age: 27
Position: Left-back
Value: €28M
Another impressive left-back who could immediately help some of the division’s top sides. The indefatigable American is one of Fulham’s standout players, surging up and down the flank to provide attacking impetus and defensive cover in equal measure. Now entering his prime years, a transfer seems inevitable at some point soon.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Age: 26
Position: Right-back
Value: €75M
One of several bona fide superstars on an expiring contract, Alexander-Arnold is free to discuss terms with interested suitors in January. He’s Real Madrid’s primary target. While a free transfer in the summer is infinitely more likely – Liverpool obviously don’t want to lose him in the midst of a title race – there could be movement here if another club tries to jump the queue this month.
Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)
Age: 32
Position: Striker
Value: €11M
Wilson hasn’t started a Premier League match for Newcastle this season, garnering only 61 minutes off the bench. His time as a striker who could reliably bag around 10 goals each season appears to be over, but he can still be a serviceable scoring option for midtable teams in need, of which there are always plenty.
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Value: €55M
Easily the most high-profile situation to follow in January. Rashford’s seemingly being pushed out by Manchester United, and he publicly declared that he’s ready to leave his childhood club. A transfer would suit everyone, but there isn’t a long list of teams able to simultaneously pay a big transfer fee, afford the Englishman’s wages, and satisfy his desire to compete at the highest level.
Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United)
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Value: €42M
Zirkzee hasn’t acclimated to his new surroundings since joining Manchester United after a breakout season at Bologna. That’s not all his fault, of course, considering the chaos around him at Old Trafford. But he’s yet to show that he can help lift the Red Devils out of their malaise, and the coach that brought him aboard is now long gone.
Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur)
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Value: €30M
Richarlison seemed to put his brutal first year in north London behind him with a solid 2023-24 campaign, but he’s been unable to build upon that this season due to injuries. Even when he returns, he’ll find minutes difficult to come by playing behind Tottenham’s first-choice forwards. A return to Brazil could be on the horizon.
Timo Werner (Tottenham Hotspur)
Age: 28
Position: Forward
Value: €11M
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou called out Werner earlier this month, making public his displeasure with the German’s “unacceptable” effort level. He then proceeded to double down on that criticism. This relationship may already be fractured beyond repair. Even for a Spurs side ravaged by injuries, don’t be shocked if his loan from RB Leipzig gets cut short.
La Liga 🇪🇸
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
Age: 27
Position: Midfielder
Value: €45M
Until he actually completes a transfer elsewhere, De Jong will continue to be a fixture of lists like this one. He remains the most obvious source of significant transfer income and salary shedding for a club always trying to execute some kind of financial gymnastics. La Masia’s continued production of homegrown midfielders would soften the blow of losing the Dutchman.
Eric Garcia (Barcelona)
Age: 23
Position: Center-back
Value: €18M
With teenager Pau Cubarsi locking down one spot at the heart of Barcelona’s backline, and Ronald Araujo now back from his long-term injury, Garcia is a candidate to be jettisoned as the Catalan club continues to look for ways to abide by La Liga’s strict spending cap. Fellow defender Andreas Christensen also falls into this category.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
Age: 26
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: €60M
So, about those finances. Barca need to cut costs or generate funds in order to keep Olmo on the field into 2025; the Spaniard’s temporary registration, granted upon his signing in the summer, expires on Dec. 31. If they can’t comply with league rules in order to keep Olmo in the squad, will he be content to simply sit in the stands? All bets are off if we hit that point.
Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis)
Age: 23
Position: Defensive midfielder
Value: €20M
Tottenham reportedly have a priority option to sign Cardoso in the summer window, but someone else could force Spurs into an early decision if they arrive at Real Betis’ door with an intriguing offer for the American international over the next month.
Endrick (Real Madrid)
Age: 18
Position: Striker
Value: €40M
Carlo Ancelotti remains adamant that Endrick and fellow phenom Arda Guler won’t leave the club in January. Not even on loan. But with Kylian Mbappe finally looking comfortable leading the line in the Spanish capital, Endrick’s route to playing time is severely limited. A loan spell where he can get consistent La Liga minutes in 2025 would surely be beneficial.
Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Age: 25
Position: Defensive midfielder
Value: €60M
Liverpool tried, and failed, to convince Zubimendi to leave Sociedad in the summer, and they remain interested in his services. The most obvious suitor, though, is Manchester City, who need to address the glaring Rodri-sized hole in their midfield. Zubimendi is the most logical replacement; he literally came on for Rodri when the latter was injured in the Euro 2024 final.
Serie A 🇮🇹
Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Age: 27
Position: Center-back
Value: €22M
Having lost his place as one of Milan’s starting central defenders, Tomori is heavily linked with a move away from the club in January, with defender-needy Juventus touted as a potential landing spot. Should that move materialize, he’d be reunited with former teammate Pierre Kalulu.
Ben Godfrey (Atalanta)
Age: 26
Position: Center-back
Value: €8M
The likes of Ademola Lookman and Ederson almost certainly won’t leave in January while Atalanta are sitting top of the Serie A table and fighting to capture their first-ever league title. But Godfrey, who has been a spectator for all but 23 minutes of the season, continues to be linked with a switch back to England and wouldn’t be made to wait until the summer if he wants to move.
Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus)
Age: 22
Position: Midfielder
Value: €20M
Rocked by defensive injuries, Juventus are looking to bolster a backline that was a pillar of strength at the beginning of the season but has looked brittle of late. They need to generate cash to do that, though. Fagioli, an academy product, would represent pure profit on the books and help offset the cost of any new face that may arrive in January.
Danilo (Juventus)
Age: 33
Position: Defender
Value: €4M
Allowing someone who can play any position across the backline to depart, especially while dealing with the aforementioned injury issues, seems odd. That Danilo is Juventus’ club captain makes it more unusual. But that hasn’t done anything to halt rampant rumors of an impending transfer to Napoli.
Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli)
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Value: €15M
Despite scoring some memorable match-winning goals for Napoli, Raspadori has never managed to establish himself as a consistent starter at the club. That trend has continued under Antonio Conte, who’s handed the diminutive forward just two Serie A starts on the campaign.
Paulo Dybala (Roma)
Age: 31
Position: Forward
Value: €8M
Dybala was inches away from becoming the latest prominent player to cash in with a move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer, but he ultimately opted to remain in Rome. His name will once again be at the forefront of rumors, with Turkey also suggested as a potential destination.
Samuele Ricci (Torino)
Age: 23
Position: Defensive midfielder
Value: €28M
Any clubs interested but ultimately unable to land Zubimendi should immediately pick up the phone and give Torino a call. Ricci shares many of the characteristics that have made the Spaniard such a hot commodity, and the Italian looks destined to be setting the tempo in midfield for a top team in the very near future.
Bundesliga 🇩🇪
Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Age: 28
Position: Center-back
Value: €30M
In an effort to beat Bayern Munich to the punch, Barcelona are already working to strike an agreement with Tah for the summer, when he’ll be available on a free transfer. Could Bayern respond by offering Leverkusen a nominal fee in order to scupper Barca’s plan?
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Age: 29
Position: Midfielder/right-back
Value: €50M
Another high-profile impending free agent. Bayern’s focus, at least publicly, is on re-signing Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies. Kimmich, the versatile veteran who has long been a staple of Bayern’s lineup, is yet to make a decision about his future, which could force the Bundesliga leaders into early action to ensure they don’t lose him for nothing.
Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)
Age: 25
Position: Winger
Value: €28M
Jamie Gittens’ emergence at Borussia Dortmund has left multiple players fighting for one remaining spot on the opposite wing at the Westfalenstadion. Malen, close to leaving the club in recent transfer windows, looks the most likely to depart as Dortmund aim to raise funds for reinforcements.
Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Age: 25
Position: Striker
Value: €60M
When you’re right on the heels of Harry Kane for the Bundesliga scoring lead, people are going to notice. Marmoush’s stock has skyrocketed as he’s continued to fill the net this season. A big-money summer move is more likely, but with so many teams desperate for consistent scorers, someone could break the bank with a huge offer in January.
Enzo Millot (VfB Stuttgart)
Age: 22
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: €42M
Millot has been tipped as a potential replacement for Florian Wirtz whenever the latter inevitably leaves Bayer Leverkusen. The creative French midfielder might not last on the market that long, though. His impressive displays both domestically and in the Champions League are turning heads.
Ligue 1 🇫🇷
Jonathan David (Lille)
Age: 24
Position: Striker
Value: €45M
David has been at the forefront of transfer rumors for multiple windows. With his contract due to expire in six months, that situation is coming to a head. It’s long been assumed that he’ll allow his Lille deal to run down and sign somewhere else as a free agent, but, like many peers on this list, a big January offer could change those plans.
Angel Gomes (Lille)
Age: 24
Position: Midfielder
Value: €25M
Another member of the expiring-contract brigade, which seems to grow every year as more players recognize the benefits of running down their deals and picking their next destination on their own terms. Gomes appears ready to return to England after his spell in France.
Rayan Cherki (Lyon)
Age: 21
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: €30M
In an ideal world, Lyon would surely prefer to keep hold of Cherki until the summer, when they could incite a more extensive bidding war for the rising young star. But the club’s dire financial situation could force Lyon to sanction a January move.
Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain)
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Value: €30M
Kolo Muani’s expensive transfer to the French capital simply hasn’t worked out as planned. PSG are keen to recoup some of the money spent to acquire him, while the Frenchman himself is looking to get his career back on track after arriving with so much hype and expectation.
Milan Skriniar (Paris Saint-Germain)
Age: 29
Position: Center-back
Value: €15M
PSG won’t stand in Skriniar’s way as he seeks more playing time. Galatasaray appear to be leading the race for his signature, but with so many teams in the market for a steady, reliable central defender right now, the Slovakian won’t be short of options.
Around the world 🌎
Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr)
Age: 30
Position: Center-back
Value: €18M
Central defenders, especially left-footed ones, are in high demand in world soccer. Few players have returned to Europe after moving to Saudi Arabia, but Laporte, linked with Real Madrid after their spate of injuries, could do exactly that in January.
Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
Age: 22
Position: Center-back
Value: €28M
The appointment of Amorim at Manchester United brought immediate rumors of a January move for Araujo. Benfica, one of the game’s sharpest operators in the transfer market, will extract every last penny from the Red Devils if they do indeed agree to sell the young defender.
Antonio Silva (Benfica)
Age: 21
Position: Center-back
Value: €38M
Jorge Mendes is doing everything in his power to engineer a transfer to Juventus and publicly putting pressure on Benfica to sell Silva. An agreement similar to the initial loan that sent Francisco Conceicao from Porto to Turin – another Mendes special – could appease everyone involved.
Luiz Henrique (Botafogo)
Age: 23
Position: Winger
Value: €22M
Leaving Real Betis and returning to his homeland was always a temporary measure for the Brazilian. He knew that shining at Botafogo would open up a path back to Europe. The left-footed winger has done just that, leading his team to the Copa Libertadores title and being named tournament MVP.
Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew)
Age: 25
Position: Forward
Value: €18M
It’s simply a matter of when, not if, Cucho leaves Major League Soccer after multiple seasons of dominant production. The Colombian was nominated for the league’s MVP award in each of the past two campaigns, and Columbus could fetch an MLS-record fee for his services.
David Hancko (Feyenoord)
Age: 27
Position: Center-back
Value: €35M
It’s been a few minutes since we’ve mentioned a left-footed defender, so here’s another one for you. Hancko’s ability to slide over and also play left-back makes him all the more desirable, and, in turn, valuable to Feyenoord, who are dealing from a position of strength.
Jhon Arias (Fluminense)
Age: 27
Position: Winger/attacking midfielder
Value: €16M
Strong showings for both club and country on big stages have caught the attention of teams across Europe. A late bloomer, Arias impressed for Colombia at the 2024 Copa America, and he could finally be in line to get his first opportunity to bring his talents to a European club.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Value: €75M
Osimhen’s stunning loan move to Galatasaray in September was a good indication of just how bitter his relationship with parent club Napoli had become. They were happy to simply ship him off for the time being and work on a permanent solution down the road.
Borja Sainz (Norwich City)
Age: 23
Position: Winger
Value: €2.2M
Despite boasting the top scorer in the Championship, Norwich City are smack dab in midtable in the second tier. Sainz’s contract situation – he has 18 months left on his deal – and scoring exploits make him a prime candidate for a January transfer.
Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
Age: 22
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: €30M
As highlighted with some of the other teams on this list, a title-chasing side is unlikely to allow its key players to leave during the season. But PSV, sitting atop the Eredivisie, might be uniquely positioned to withstand a big departure, making Tillman a potential transfer target.
Manfred Ugalde (Spartak Moscow)
Age: 22
Position: Striker
Value: €15M
With a reported €30-million release clause in his contract, the Costa Rican could be an ideal signing for a Premier League side seeking a scoring boost to climb up the table in the second half of the campaign. Ugalde, the leading scorer in Russia this season, has 15 goals in 18 matches.
Geny Catamo (Sporting CP)
Age: 23
Position: Winger/wing-back
Value: €15M
Catamo is exactly the type of wide player that Amorim needs to implement his preferred style of play at Manchester United, so it’s no surprise that the Mozambican has been linked with a transfer ever since Amorim left Sporting. Teammate Geovany Quenda is worth monitoring, too.
Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP)
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Value: €75M
A sensational 2024, when everything he touched seemed to find the net, has made Gyokeres one of the hottest names on the transfer market, with several of Europe’s biggest clubs apparently interested in the Swede. Should it happen in January, it would likely be the most expensive deal of the window.