Top 10 most expensive transfers in 2026 January window ft. Semenyo & Jeremy Jacquet

Premier League clubs recorded the highest spending in the recent transfer window.

In the January 2026 transfer window, Premier League clubs spent £397 million ($543 million), while Serie A clubs in Italy spent a total of £205 million ($280 million), the second-highest amount in all of Europe.

Know all the significant confirmed moves in the men’s game, arranged by highest fee, even though it wasn’t a particularly good window.

Top 10 biggest January 2026 transfer window signings across Europe’s top five leagues

10. Mohamed Kader Meïté (Rennes to Al Hilal) – £25.9m

One deal that might have gone unnoticed as the transfer draw closed is Al-Hilal’s acquisition of Mohamed Kader Meite, a former young striker for Rennes.

The 18-year-old Frenchman is the second-highest non-Premier League acquisition of the transfer window, only surpassed by Lucas Paqueta’s return to Flamengo from West Ham United. Kader Meïté reportedly joined for 30 million euros (£25.9 million).

9. Oscar Bobb (Man City to Fulham) – £27m

In August 2024, Oscar Bobb was about to make his debut for Man City’s first team when he broke his leg. Then he saw Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush, and Antoine Semenyo sign to hamper his place in the team. Although City are losing out on a lot of potential, £27 million plus a portion of a future fee is a good return for a player who hasn’t played much.

8. Lorenzo Lucca (Napoli to Nottingham Forest) – £29.9m

Lorenzo Lucca, a striker for Napoli, has been loaned this winter transfer window to Nottingham Forest till the end of the current campaign with a summer purchase option. The Italian international joined Napoli on loan last July, which included a purchase obligation from Udinese.

Lucca has battled for playing time with the Italian champions, despite scoring 14 goals for Udinese in the previous season. After only making four starts, the 25-year-old scored once in 16 Serie A games for Antonio Conte’s team and once in the Coppa Italia.

7. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta to Atlético Madrid) – £30.3m

Ademola Lookman’s transfer from Atalanta has now been confirmed. After the club rejected an offer from Serie A rivals Inter Milan to sign him, the 28-year-old went on strike last summer over “broken promises.” His persistence finally paid off, as he is now moving to Atletico Madrid.

The €35 million plus an additional €5 million in bonuses is a fair return for Atalanta, especially since he was in his last 18 months of his deal. With this move, Atleti are probably bringing in another innovative attacking weapon to cover for Antoine Griezmann’s probable exit.

6. Conor Gallagher (Atlético Madrid to Tottenham) – £34.7m

After spending 18 months in LaLiga, Conor Gallagher is back in the Premier League. He had a fairly successful first 12 months of that tenure, but the intense competition this season caused him to drop out of the starting lineup. In the end, Atlético will be happy to receive £34.7m for a player this winter transfer window who has only made four league appearances this year.

5. Brennan Johnson (Tottenham to Crystal Palace) – £35.0m

Brennan Johnson had two successful seasons at Tottenham. Under the manager Ange Postecoglou, he carved himself a role that resulted in him scoring the game-winning goal in the UEFA Europa League final by relying on two essential qualities: speed and scoring goals at the back post.

However, the Wales international dropped in the hierarchy since Thomas Frank took over in June, making just eight Premier League and Champions League starts.

4. Lucas Paqueta (West Ham to Flamengo) – £36.8m

Lucas Paquetá is the most recent, and by far the most costly, high-profile arrival to the top division in recent years as the Brazilian league suddenly becomes wealthy. For Flamengo and the league, it’s a record-breaking agreement.

For a player who has had a difficult few years, West Ham did well to recover a healthy amount. The gifted playmaker’s performance declined after he was involved in (and ultimately exonerated from) a betting controversy, and he hasn’t been the same since. Hopefully, returning home would help him launch his career once more.

3. Jørgen Strand Larsen (AC Milan to Crystal Palace) – £43m

Shockingly, this transfer went through, given that it initially appeared contingent on Jean-Philippe Mateta leaving Palace. But AC Milan decided to sell him after his medical test. In any case, the Eagles moved forward and signed Strand Larsen for the agreed-upon £43 million plus an additional £5 million in add-ons.

Strand Larsen has been in terrible form this season, scoring just one league goal and dropping out of the usual starting lineup, so Palace’s move is audacious. In his defence, the squad that surrounds him has historically performed poorly. However, he lacks confidence and is going for a high price, which is rarely a good combo.

2. Jérémy Jacquet (Rennes to Liverpool) – £60m

The defender will not transfer to Anfield until the summer, but Liverpool have finalised a deal valued at up to £60 million for Jeremy Jacquet. To say that he was a name that most people did not know at the beginning of the winter period would be an exaggeration.

It’s a big decision to spend up to £60–£55 million upfront, with the possibility of an additional £5 million, on a 20-year-old. But Liverpool see the French centre-back as a long-term investment who will be a vital member of their defence for many years to come.

1. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth to Manchester City) – £62.5m

This winter, Antoine Semenyo had a £65 million release clause; nevertheless, City have negotiated an initial deal that is slightly less than that amount. They did this by paying what has become the highest amount to acquire an attacker with Premier League experience.

Signing a player who is about to turn 26 costs a lot of money, but City needed a goalscorer other than Erling Haaland. The Ghanaian international’s 21 goals in the league in the last 18 months indicate he’s capable of doing so.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.