There was a flurry of activity across the planet during the winter window as plenty of clubs spent unusually big – but which deals passed you by?
What felt like the longest January of all time is , FINALLY over after the best part of five weeks. In the football sphere, that means the end of an extended transfer window – with the market open into early February as clubs across the planet were given every opportunity to get their business done.
We have become accustomed to frugal spending in the winter window, but that certainly wasn't the case this time around as plenty of teams decided to splash the cash at the start of 2025 in a bid to kick on in the remainder of the campaign.
But which deals went under the radar? Below, GOAL runs through 21 January transfers you might have missed…
Dele Alli (Free agent to Como)
Are we one step closer to seeing Dele Alli back in action?! The injury-plagued midfielder has a new club having endured an absolute nightmare with his fitness, joining Cesc Fabregas' ambitious project at Como. His last competitive appearance was in 2023 for Besiktas.
The Serie A side has taken a big gamble by offering Dele a contract after the ex-Tottenham man spent a period training with them, having ended his time at Everton where he was working towards a return. He's still not ready to play, but it would be brilliant to simply see him back on the pitch soon.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesJuma Bah (Real Valladolid to Man City)
A transfer mired in controversy, to the extent that it was announced very much on the quiet. Manchester City landed centre-back Juma Bah from Real Valladolid amid accusations of 'tapping up' from the Spanish side.
The 18-year-old allegedly forced his way out of the club under City's influence, failing to turn up to training and even paying his own €6 million release clause. Ultimately he got his move and has been immediately loaned to Lens in Ligue 1 to help fill the gap left by another City signing, Abdukodir Khusanov.
AFPMichy Batshuayi (Galatasaray to Eintracht Frankfurt)
Former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is back in the Bundesliga after bringing his time in Turkey to an end by signing a last-minute €3.5m deal with Eintracht Frankfurt, who were looking to replace Omar Marmoush following his switch to Man City.
The 31-year-old only joined Galatasaray in the summer after a prolific 2023-24 campaign with Fenerbahce, but the move across the fierce Istanbul divide hadn't really worked out.
Tom Bischof (Hoffenheim to Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich have continued their habit of snaffling up the best young German talent around, landing prodigious Hoffenheim midfielder Tom Bischof without spending a single penny.
However, the versatile 19-year-old won't actually join up with his new club until the summer, having put pen to paper on a pre-contract with Die Roten.
