Top five most expensive January transfers of all time

Chelsea heavily involved in biggest deals

January is often the time when football clubs at both ends of the table panic and spend huge money on new additions.

Over the years, fees have spiralled to almost unthinkable sums. Inflation has seen players go for exorbitant amounts.

This year’s mid-season window will be no different. The Coral News Team takes a look at the top five January transfers of all time.

Virgil van Dijk – Southampton to Liverpool, £75m

Liverpool needed a world-class centre-back and it needed a world record bid for a defender to bag him.

Jurgen Klopp eventually got his man, spending £75m on Dutch international Virgil van Dijk. The ex-Celtic star has long-been touted as one of the best defenders in Europe.

Van Dijk’s imminent inclusion should now indicate whether Liverpool’s defensive frailty is down to Klopp’s coaching or a lack of individual talent.

Oscar – Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG, £60m

It was a surprise to see Chelsea let the Brazil international leave this time last year. And it was even more of a surprise to see him land in China.

However, when the £60m fee was announced, it was all too clear to see why the Blues let him leave for Shanghai.

It is arguably one of the best value deals of all time as Oscar was only a squad player at Stamford Bridge when he left.

Diego Costa – Chelsea to Atletico Madrid, £57m

It seems Roman Abramovich has gotten really good at this transfer business. Antonio Conte wanted rid of Diego Costa and Chelsea managed to land a handsome sum for him.

The Spanish international returned to Atletico Madrid, agreeing a £57m deal struck in the summer. However, due to a transfer ban, Atletico can only officially purchase this month.

The Blues have done okay in Costa’s absence and Conte will have a tidy kitty to play with in January.

Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea, £50m

Chelsea haven’t always been on the right side of a transfer deal. Back in January 2011, Abramovich shelled out an eye-watering £50m for Liverpool’s talismanic goal-getter.

‘El Nino’ proved to be a relatively awful signing, but can point to Champions League and Europa League trophies as justification.

Alex Teixeira – Shakhtar Donetsk to Jiangsu Suning, £38m

Rarely to be outdone in savvy transfer business, Shakhtar Donetsk bagged £38m off Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning for Alex Teixeira.

The Brazilian star was on the cusp of a move to Liverpool a year before that. Alex became the most expensive signing outside of the top five major European leagues.