Top 5 January signings of all time
The transfer window is one of the most important periods for football clubs all over the world. It is during this time that they sign players to improve their respective teams.
As for the fans, the immense satisfaction of following various transfer sagas and seeing new players join their favourite clubs is best left undescribed. It's a feeling that should rather be experienced than discussed, isn't it?
TheJanuary transfer window isn't as exciting as the one in summer, probably because it doesn't witness many high-profile signings, although this season is has been an exception in that regard.
Also, most of the high-profile clubs prefer working improving their squads in the summer before the season starts, rather than signing players hastily in the winter.
It might not boast a plethora of marquee signings, but the January window has seen some really shrewd pieces of business. Players who signed for a minimal fee in the past have gone on to become legends at their respective clubs.
That being said, here are the five best January signings ever made in the game's illustrious history.
#5 Nemanja Matic (Benfica to Chelsea for £22.5m in 2011)
Nemanja Matic shouldn't have been sold by Chelsea in the first place. The midfielder was sold to Benfica in 2011 for £4.5m, before he was brought back to the Blues under Jose Mourinho for £21 million in 2014.
From 2014 until 2017, Matic became an important cog in the wheel of Chelsea's well-oiled juggernaut, winning two Premier League trophies and the EFL Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.
His ability to read the game and break up play was used to devastating effect under Antonio Conte in the past season, as the Serbian formed a formidable partnership with Frenchman N'Golo Kante in the middle.
Needless to say, their performances in the 3-4-3 formation were invaluable and arguably one of the highlights of their title-winning 2016-17 campaign. However, Chelsea surprised everyone by repeating their mistake from the past, shipping him off to rivals Manchester United and replacing him with Tiemoue Bakayoko.
At Old Trafford, Mourinho has shrewdly partnered Paul Pogba and Matic in the middle, allowing the former to flourish in a more attacking role. Selling him definitely doesn't make the list of the best decisions Chelsea have ever made, but bringing him back in 2014 was great move by the defending champions.