The January transfer window is often looked down upon as the ugly sister of the summer window, with those glorious two months of negotiating time in July and August – not to mention the pre-negotiations in June – often leading to better value in the market.
However, January transfers can still bear fruit; here are 10 deals that show it can be just as successful as the summer window for unearthing gems.
CHRISTOPHE DUGARRY (Bordeaux to Birmingham City, 2003)
In the January transfer window of 2003, Birmingham were in need of a talisman to come save them from the drop. That man was Dugarry.
The World Cup winner, only the second to play for The Blues, enjoyed a ‘purple patch’ in which he scored five goals in a run of four games following his loan move from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux. His goals helped Birmingham avoid relegation, lifting them from up to 13th place and cementing their Premier League status for the following season.
During the summer, after avoiding relegation, Dugarry signed on a permanent deal. However, he didn’t return with the same impact. He played just 15 games of the 2003-04 and scored just once, leaving for Qatar. Still, Dugarry has since been inducted into Birmingham’s Hall of Fame.
MIKEL ARTETA (Real Sociedad to Everton, 2005)
Real Sociedad bought Mikel Arteta in the summer of 2004 with the idea of the Spaniard lining up alongside Xabi Alonso in their midfield. However, Alonso soon left for Liverpool and Arteta failed to establish himself in the team.
Six months later, aged 22, he joined Everton on loan for the remainder of the 2004-05 season, with the option of a permanent deal. He settled in straight away and helped Everton finish fourth in the league, securing Champions League football for the Toffees.
After a positive contribution during the second half of the season, David Moyes opted to take up the option to buy Arteta, for just Dhs8.95 million (£2m). The silky Spaniard went on to become a fan-favourite at Goodison Park, winning Everton’s Players’ Player award in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
Having played in Merseyside for six-and-a-half-years, Arteta made the switch to Arsenal in 2011 in a deal worth Dhs45 million (£10m).
PATRICE EVRA (Monaco to Manchester United, 2006)
Patrice Evra completed a Dhs31.5 million (£7m) move to Manchester United during January of 2006. Prior to the deal’s completion, it was said Monaco had agreed a fee with Inter Milan to take the Frenchman back to Italy, but Evra only had eyes for Old Trafford.
His career at United had an inauspicious start; Evra had problems adapting to English football and was hauled off at half-time of his debut in a Manchester derby.
Despite his early struggles, Evra went on to become a mainstay of the side, playing a major role in one of the most successful Manchester United sides in history. Along with five Premier League titles, five Community Shields, three League Cups and a Champions League title, Evra was elected into three Premier League Teams of the Season and a UEFA Team of The Year in 2009.
During the summer of 2014, a year after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, Evra left for Juventus for a fee of just Dhs6.75 million (£1.5m).
NEMANJA VIDIC (Spartak Moscow to Manchester United, 2006)
After spells in both Serbia and Russia, Vidic made his first big move to the Premier League during January 2006 when he signed for Manchester United for Dhs32 million (£7.2m). Despite interest from Liverpool and Fiorentina, Vidic opted for United – arriving at the same time as Patrice Evra.
The Serbian spent eight years in Manchester, where he was regarded as one of the Premier League’s best defenders, becoming a firm fan-favourite for his aggressive and assured performances as he built one of the most impressive central-defensive partnerships in recent memory alongside Rio Ferdinand.
Like Evra, Vidic was also recognised for his success outside of Manchester. The centre-back won a string of personal accolades, including being elected into the Premier League Team of the Year four times and named the Premier League Player of the Season twice.
He ended his eight-year association with the club in the summer of 2014, joining Inter Milan following the expiration of his contract.
CLINT DEMPSEY (New England Revolution to Fulham, 2007)
Fulham signed Clint Dempsey from New England Revolution in 2007, the attacker becoming the club’s third American alongside Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra. The fee of Dhs8.95 million (£2m) was a record sale from an MLS side at the time.
Dempsey’s first goal came in a 1-0 win over Liverpool, a strike that would prove crucial as the Cottagers secured their top-flight status against the odds, while his goals during Fulham’s Europa League run in 2009-10 helped Roy Hodgson’s side reach the final.
The USA international, who has earned 130 caps for his country, went on to be Fulham’s top scorer in three of the next five seasons. Despite opening contract talks with Martin Jol in early 2012, Dempsey opted to join Tottenham Hotspur during the summer.
ASHLEY YOUNG (Watford to Aston Villa, 2007)
Difficult to believe as it is, Ashley Young was once dubbed ‘England’s answer to Lionel Messi’ after impressing coming through the youth ranks at Watford.
He first came to prominence during the 2004-05 season; Watford struggled in the Championship but Young played over 30 league games and claimed the Young Player of the Season award. After a couple of impressive seasons, he made the switch to Villa – the Dhs36 million (£8m) move the club’s record transfer fee at the time.
Young started his first full season at Villa well under Martin O’Neill, so much so just a month into the season he received his first international call up for two of England’s EURO 2008 qualifiers.The Englishman’s performances continued to impress as he helped Villa to three consecutive sixth-place finishes in the league.
Having spent four years at Villa Park, Young then completed a move worth just under Dhs90 million (£20m) to Manchester United.
LUIS SUAREZ (Ajax to Liverpool, 2011)
Perhaps the greatest January window signing ever, Luis Suarez made his move to Liverpool in a deal worth Dhs100 million (£22.5m) in 2011, just six months after an eventful World Cup with Uruguay had seen him sent off for deliberate handball against Ghana.
Despite an incredible record of 89 goals in 110 league games for Ajax, not many Liverpool fans predicted what would come next.
The Uruguayan became a hero at Anfield and came close to leading the Reds to the Premier League title during the 2013-14 season, though his 33 goals and 21 assists weren’t enough as Manchester City pipped them to the title. It proved to be Suarez’s final season in red, as he switched to Barcelona for a fee of Dhs336 million (£75m) after another eventful World Cup.
He didn’t come without controversy, a ban for racial abuse and several biting incidents somewhat tainting his reputation, but Suarez has gone on to become one of the best footballers in the world.
GARY CAHILL (Bolton to Chelsea, 2012)
Chelsea signed Gary Cahill in 2012 for Dhs31 million (£7m) – a move that played a role in consigning former club Bolton to relegation. Cahill, on the other hand, won his first piece of silverware just months into life with Chelsea, capping off the season with the club’s first ever Champions League and an FA Cup.
Cahill’s stock rose as he progressively played more league games, building a strong partnership with John Terry and becoming an automatic starter for England.
The 31-year-old has been included in the Premier League Team of the Year twice – first in 2014-14 and then in 2014-15 as Chelsea won both the Premier League and the League Cup.
DANIEL STURRIDGE (Chelsea to Liverpool, 2013)
Despite his injury woes, Daniel Sturridge can still be considered a ‘hit’ since his move from Stamford Bridge to Anfield in 2013.
Sturridge had spells at both Manchester City and Chelsea, but was generally used as a bit-part player. He began to really flourish at Liverpool and in the 2013-14 season forged a deadly partnership with Luis Suarez – the Englishman contributing to 31 goals across the season.
Injuries have hindered his time at Liverpool, but his goals-to-game ratio is still impressive and he has contributed eight goals in 15 games in 2016-17.
RIYAD MAHREZ (Le Havre to Leicester, 2014)
Riyad Mahrez made his move to Leicester City in 2014 in strange circumstances. Steve Walsh, then a scout with Leicester, had been attending Le Havre’s games as he casted a close eye on winger Ryan Mendes, but instead, was impressed by Mahrez.
The Algerian joined the Foxes for just Dhs1.9m (£425k) and went on to win the Championship with them in his first season, gaining promotion to the Premier League.
Leicester were within touching distance of relegation during his first full season with the club, but seven wins in their final nine games saw them secure top-flight football for a successive season.
Then Leicester, helped by a magnificent season from Mahrez, pulled off the unimaginable. He contributed 27 goals across the 2015-16 season, as the Foxes defied the odds and won the Premier League. Mahrez’s season was so good, in fact, he won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or – coming seventh in the voting.
