10 most expensive deals of January 2023 transfer window rated one year on
The 2024 January transfer window has arrived although it's been slow going in the opening few days.
There have been loan moves and new contracts signed, but fans are still eagerly anticipating the first big money move of the year. Thanks mainly to Chelsea, a record £815million was spent in the Premier League 12 months ago, with England's top flight responsible for nine of the 10 biggest deals done across Europe.
And one year on, Mirror Football takes a close look at how each of those signings have fared at their new clubs. Sure enough, there's been contrasting fortunes, with some excelling but others enduring goal droughts, stick from fans, and even relegation to the Championship.
10: Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes to Southampton, £22m)
If the Ghanaian winger was signed to save the Saints from relegation, then things haven't quite turned out that way.
The 21-year-old failed to make a decisive impact though, and by the time he got his first club goals in a final day 4-4 draw with Liverpool, they were already relegated. He's shown some exciting form this season as under Russell Martin, Southampton look to bounce back with promotion, but a hamstring injury as limited him to 13 appearances.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Fans at St. Mary's could be forgiven for hoping the best is yet to come from the youngster. Contracted until the summer of 2027, time is still on his side.
Kamaldeen Sulemana is now in the Championship with SouthamptonHAVE YOUR SAY! Who is the best ever January signing in the Premier League? Comment below.
9: Georginio Rutter (Hoffenheim to Leeds, £24.8m)
A 21-year-old signed mid-season that failed to help his side survive in the Premier League - it seems an early theme is developing here.
Mind you, the French forward, whose fee could yet rise to £36million with add-ons, hardly walked into a stable environment and had played for three different managers by the time Leeds went down. But there have been ample signs of promise in the second tier, scoring four times and registering a string of assists as Daniel Farke's team push for the play-offs.
Georginio Rutter (right) has been key to Leeds' counter-attacking style in the Championship (Getty Images)8: Malo Gusto (Lyon to Chelsea, £26.3m)
It's easy to forget that the 20-year-old French defender joined Chelsea from Lyon last January, partly because of their more elaborate business elsewhere and more so, because he was immediately loaned back to the Ligue 1 club.
But amid their inconsistent form, he's been a rare bright spot in the 2023/24 campaign for the Blues in light of the injury problems to Reece James. In contrast to their otherwise scattered transfer policy, Gusto is showing signs that he could become a prominent long-term prospect at Stamford Bridge.
Malo Gusto is beginning to impress for Chelsea (Getty Images)7: Vitinha (Braga to Marseille, £28.3m)
Given the amount of attacking talent that Portugal can boast right now, it's unsurprising that the uncapped 23-year-old hasn't harboured much by the way of media attention.
The ex-Braga forward signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Marseille in January, although a return of six goals in 41 games for the Ligue 1 club represents an underwhelming return so far. A big start to 2024 is needed if he's to have any chance of boarding a plane to Germany with Cristiano Ronaldo and co this summer.
6: Noni Madueke (PSV to Chelsea, £30.7m)
Had this deal have been assessed on Boxing Day, the narrative may have centred around another panic-stricken Chelsea signing who has had virtually zero impact since arriving.
But in his team's last two games, the England Under-21 international has not only performed impressively, but scored decisive goals in wins over Crystal Palace and Luton. And he's drawn praise from manager Mauricio Pochettino for his patience and willingness to work hard in adversity.
Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move
Recent signs suggest that Madueke's modest total of three Premier League starts for the London side is a figure that will soon rapidly increase. Furthermore, his attitude has been widely cited as a lesson that Jadon Sancho would do well to learn from.
Noni Madueke after his late winner for Chelsea against Crystal Palace (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)5: Benoit Badiashile (Monaco to Chelsea, £33m)
Like Madueke, a young player signed by Chelsea last January but unlike Madueke, club fans are still wondering whether Badiashile will prove a long-term replacement for Thiago Silva or an expensive mistake.
Capped twice by France, the 22-year-old initially showed glimpses of potential but thus far, injuries have curtailed his impact. A total of two appearances this season, and just 13 since his move, mean he's been more forgotten than formidable in blue so far.
Benoit Badiashile has been hit by injuries since signing for Chelsea (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)4: Cody Gakpo (PSV to Liverpool, £37.2m)
Eyebrows were raised when the Reds splashed out for Gakpo, despite his impressive showing in the 2022 World Cup.
Bur rather than doubts over the ability of the 24-year-old, the perception was it was a signing Jurgen Klopp did not need given the array of attacking talent already at his disposal. However, the former PSV player is developing into a more than useful squad addition.
He has eight goals in all competitions this season, with the latest coming in the 4-2 win over Newcastle on New Year's Day. But with Mo Salah now heading off to the AFCON, the scrutiny on Gakpo and his fellow forwards is about to intensify.
Cody Gakpo moved to Liverpool from PSV after the 2022 World Cup3: Anthony Gordon (Everton to Newcastle, £40m)
Arguably, the best bit of a business done by a Premier League club last January.
A scouser born and bread, but Gordon was soon made an honorary Geordie with a string of impressive performances that helped the club into the Champions League. That form has continued into the 2023/24 campaign, with his winner against Man United in December making him the first Newcastle player to score in four straight home games since Alan Shearer in 1999.
Gordon has already represented England at age-grade level. Now a senior call-up under Gareth Southgate surely can't be far away.
Anthony Gordon celebrates scoring for Newcastle against Manchester United in December2: Mykhaylo Mudryk (Shaktar Donetsk to Chelsea, £62m)
When Mudryk came off the bench and almost scored a superb solo goal on debut against Liverpool, it seemed obvious why Chelsea had hijacked Arsenal to his signing.
A year on, and the Gunners may be delighted they did. The 22-year-old failed to score before the season was out, and by the summer he looked like a lost soul, low on confidence and peripheral in games.
There have been green shoots of recovery in this campaign, but a total of four goals in 17 games in all competitins is anything but prolific. Given his fee could ultimately rise to £89million, Pochettino needs to find a way to resurrect the Ukrainian star - especially given the club could be stuck with him for seven-and-a-half more years.
Mykhailo Mudryk struggled to make an immediate impact at Chelsea (Getty Images)1: Enzo Fernandez (Benfica to Chelsea, £106.8m)
The fifth Chelsea deal on this list by far and away represents the most expensive - and one that is yet to be justified too.
Fernandez, 22, impressed in Argentina's successful World Cup campaign, but the subsequent £106.8million transfer fee and eight-and-a-half-year deal offered by Todd Boehly smacked of an instantaneous reaction. The midfielder has shown a capability to produce moments of magic with the ball at his feet, but in reality, is yet to show the kind of consistent influence to merit even half of the fee paid.
Enzo Fernandez signed a deal until 2031 when joining Chelsea (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Three goals in 41 club appearances hardly represents a prolific strike rate either. Fernandez may yet come good at Stamford Bridge and prove pivotal to his side winning trophies. But for that money, he needs to do more.
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