The biggest January transfer window signings in 2023 and their impact so far

The January transfer window opened for all Premier League clubs on New Year’s Day, with clubs now having the opportunity to bolster their squads ahead of the second half of the season. 

Clubs have a month to make moves in the market, with the window officially closing on February 1st

Last year we saw some formidable names join the league, with clubs now having an indication as to whether their signings have been a bargain or not.

Here’s our top transfers of the 2022/23 January transfer window and a review of their impact at their new clubs so far. 

Leandro Trossard, Brighton to Arsenal (£27 million) 

Trossard hasn’t moved his game to a new level since joining the Emirates, but the shrewd price tag and the output since suggests Arsenal can mark this as a success. 

The Belgian registered one goal and ten assists in his first half-season at the club but has struggled to become a mainstay in Arsenal’s frontline this season due to selection and injuries. 

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However, the consensus is that Trossard has been a sound bit of recruitment from Arsenal, having already provided some big moments for the club.  

A last-minute equaliser against Manchester City in the Community Shield final, a winning goal against Everton and his sensational cameo off the bench against Chelsea has won the admiration of Arsenal fans who will be hoping to see more from him in the second half of the season. 

Pedro Porro, Sporting Lisbon to Tottenham (£39.7 million) 

Tottenham have been struggling to replace Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker for some time now. After longstanding problems with Matt Doherty, Serge Aurier and Emerson Royal, Porro was seen as the next contender. 

With Doherty and Djed Spence moved on, the Spaniard arrived on loan from Sporting Lisbon last year before the transfer was made permanent in the summer. 

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Porro certainly improved Spurs’ offence from right-back last season- picking up three goals and three assists in his first 15 Premier League appearances- but aged 23 and having no experience in English football, it was always going to take time. 

With the introduction of Ange Postecoglou, Porro has quickly adapted as an inverted full-back and has been an emblem for Spurs’ resurgence this season. 

Enzo Fernández, Benfica to Chelsea (£106.8 million) 

With a British transfer record hanging over his shoulders and coming off the back of a leading role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph, hopes were and still are high for Enzo Fernández. 

Chelsea are arguably going through the biggest rebuild in their history, so a poor run of form and a tenth place position in the table has blurred the assessment of some of their signings- all while Mauricio Pochettino scrambles to find his best starting XI.

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Fernández certainly looks the part and has shown plenty of class in the 48 games he’s featured for the club, but until Chelsea emerges from this transformative period it’s still undecided on whether he’s the real deal. 

Cody Gakpo, PSV Eindhoven to Liverpool (£35 million plus add-ons) 

Tipped as the predecessor to Roberto Firmino, Liverpool paid PSV an astute £37 million to sign Gakpo last year, after he enjoyed an influential World Cup campaign with the Netherlands. 

Gakpo contributed 10 goals in his first 21 games from the false nine position, but this season has been altered around by Jurgen Klopp, sometimes playing off the left and even having a spell in midfield at the start of the campaign.  

There are still huge hopes for the 24-year-old and his addition to the squad has given Klopp a formidable frontline to chop and change from, but nailing down a position seems the priority for the Dutchman if he is the reach further heights. 

Anthony Gordon, Everton to Newcastle (£45 million) 

Anthony Gordon has caught the eye at the beginning of his first full season with Newcastle United, starting all but one of the club’s Premier League games. 

He’s notched up five goals and four assists in those games but has stagnated in tandem with Newcastle’s dismal decline after several injuries have derailed the team’s form. 

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Newcastle took somewhat of a risk on Gordon, with the output shown now at Newcastle not nearly resembling his time with a struggling Everton side. 

Under Eddie Howe, Gordon has evolved his game and has plenty yet to offer at the age of just 22 and even more so when Newcastle halts their downturn in form. 

Jorginho, Chelsea to Arsenal (£12 million)

The 31-year-old joined Arsenal from Chelsea for £12million back in January. He signed a one-and-a-half year deal and made 14 Premier League appearances during the second half of last season as Mikel Arteta’s side pushed Manchester City for the title. 

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With Thomas Partey’s long-term injury issues, Jorginho has benefitted and has already made 16 appearances so far this season, captaining the side for three of those when Martin Ødegaard was absent. 

However, Jorginho’s contract is out in the summer with reports suggesting that the Italian is favouring a move to the Serie A. For the amount paid, Arsenal won’t be too disheartened, with his his steady string of performances thus far coupled with his experience behind the scenes making this one another smart pickup from Arsenal.

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