9 Best January Transfer Window Signings In Premier League History

The January transfer market is a very difficult one to navigate for Premier League managers and there have been an awful lot of poor moves made by bosses and chairman over the years.

However, every so often a smart gaffer makes a very shrewd move and brings in a player that will either boost his side's short-term, or preferably long-term performances. Here are the nine best signings ever made in the Premier League's January transfer window.

9. David Luiz – Benfica to Chelsea – 2011 - £21.5m

The enigmatic Brazilian did not win everyone over in his first spell at Chelsea, but he did win plenty of silverware and produced some memorable moments.

The centre-back claimed a Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup winner’s medal in his first stint at Stamford Bridge and whilst many pundits were never convinced by his defensive abilities, you could not argue with that haul of prizes.

Luiz was flogged to Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 but has since returned to the Bridge and has added the Premier League to his list of achievements.

8. Christophe Dugarry – Bordeaux to Birmingham – 2003 – Loan & Free

Birmingham were really struggling in 2003 and brought in a big name to fire them out of their relegation battle. Christophe Dugarry was a World Cup and European Championship winner with France and played for giants like AC Milan and Barcelona.

It was a short-term fix, but his five goals in four games kept the Blues in the Premier League that season and is forever remembered as a fantastic move in the January window.

7. Daniel Sturridge – Chelsea to Liverpool – 2013 - £12m

The unpredictable striker has had an up-and-down career from the start, including his time at Liverpool, but for just £12m he has certainly proved to be an excellent signing for the Reds.

It was a very encouraging start for Sturridge as he scored 11 times in 16 games in the second half of 2012-13 and he continued this fine form the following campaign.

The Reds came within a whisker of winning the Premier League title and that was in no small part down to the 24 goals Sturridge managed that campaign. It has not gone so swimmingly for him since then, but he was undoubtedly an excellent piece of business in that January window of 2013.

6. Nemanja Matic – Benfica to Chelsea – 2014 - £21m

Chelsea will have been frustrated that they let Matic go in 2012, but they were very pleased to see him back in January 2014, even if it did cost them £21m.

The rock solid central midfielder was at Stamford Bridge for three-and-a-half seasons and won two Premier League titles, being an integral part to the success from the middle of the park throughout that time.

151 appearances in that relatively short space of time shows how important was to the Blues and many think the club were mad to let him go to Manchester United in 2017.

5. Mikel Arteta – Real Sociedad to Everton – 2005 - £2m

This was a cracking piece of business from David Moyes as he brought in ever-reliable midfielder Mikel Arteta for a snip at £2m.

Twice voted Everton’s Player of the Season, he made 209 appearances for the Toffees in nearly seven years at the club, notching 34 goals from midfield in the process.

The Spaniard was eventually tempted away to Arsenal in 2011, but he is fondly remembered by the fans on the blue half of Merseyside.

4. Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution to Fulham – 2007 - £2m

Signing a player directly from America’s MLS is always going to be a risk for Premier League clubs, but Fulham’s gamble on Clint Dempsey came off in serious style.

The Texan got progressively better and more influential for the Cottagers, scoring more goals in each of the five full seasons he was at the club. This peaked with an incredible 2011-12 campaign when he netted 23 times. This attracted the attention of Spurs and Dempsey was sold, but what a time he had at Fulham.

3. Nemanja Vidic – Spartak Moscow to Man Utd – 2006 - £7m

There wasn’t a great deal of fanfare when Vidic arrived in January 2006 and few could have predicted the wild success the no nonsense centre-back would go on to have at Manchester United.

The Serbian spent over eight years at Old Trafford, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League, among other tournaments. He captained the club and was a fan favourite from start to finish – a wonderful bit of business from Sir Alex Ferguson.

2. Patrice Evra – Monaco to Man Utd – 2006 - £5m

Joining and leaving Manchester United at the same time as Vidic was Patrice Evra, who turned out to be an equally superb move from Fergie, and for £2m less.

Vidic is arguably the more iconic figure at Old Trafford, but Evra actually racked up 79 more appearances for the club and was an entirely reliable figure at left-back for the majority of a decade.

A fee of just £5m was an absolute bargain for such a consistently excellent performer at the highest level.

1. Luis Suarez – Ajax to Liverpool – 2011 - £22.5m

Suarez may not have won much at Liverpool (one League Cup) but he had an incredible time at Anfield, scoring an outrageous amount of goals and very nearly taking them to their first Premier League title.

The Uruguayan only scored four times in the second half of the 2011-12 season when he arrived, but went on to score 78 more goals in just 120 games and became the most feared striker in the division.

31 goals in the 2013-14 Premier League season was enough to see Barcelona swoop for his services, but it was an incredible three-and-a-half years the controversial forward had on Merseyside.