January transfers: 10 done deals you might have missed this week | OneFootball

Incredible as it may seem, the January transfer window is closing in less than a week.

While the month itself seems to be dragging on, the transfer window has been progressing at a good pace, despite the lack of high-profile activity that usually grabs attention and headlines.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s been an inactive window. There have been plenty of transfers that have already taken place, and we’ve compiled a list of 10 completed deals from this week that you might have missed.

Omar Marmoush

Manchester City are alarmingly close to being eliminated from the inaugural Champions League ‘league phase,’ which is surprising considering that 24 teams progress, with 16 moving into the round of 16 and the top eight automatically advancing to the quarter-finals. For a club of City’s stature, something must have gone terribly wrong, and to be fair, it has. Therefore, their potential dip into the transfer window should not come as a surprise.

It is fair to say that they haven’t effectively replaced Julián Álvarez. Bringing in the impressive Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush—who arrives after scoring 15 goals in 17 league appearances for Frankfurt this season and four goals in six Europa League outings—should alleviate some of the goalscoring burden from Erling Haaland’s shoulders. However, like the Argentine before him, there will likely be questions about his playing time, as he is predominantly a striker who could also be used on the wings.

Kyle Walker

It’s not just incoming transfers related to City this month, as Kyle Walker departs following a significant decline over the past few years. The full-back, who has seen his best days, becomes the latest England international to relocate to Serie A in hopes of finding a fresh start. Once a guaranteed starter, the 34-year-old had been surpassed by Rico Lewis. However, he’s not joining a Milan side that lacks competition for his right-back position; there are already at least six players on the books, including Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal, who joined from Walker’s former club, Tottenham, last summer.

Andrés García

For a club like Aston Villa, who are still competing on multiple fronts, it’s not surprising to see them enter the winter transfer market. They have already strengthened their attacking options with Dutch forward Donyell Malen. They have now signed Andrés García, who leaves his boyhood club after making 50 appearances, most of which were in Spain’s second division. García will provide head coach Unai Emery with an option at right-back, serving as Matty Cash’s understudy and adding competition for the long term.

Mathew Ryan

Since leaving his native Australia, goalkeeper Mathew Ryan has embarked on a European journey, representing nine clubs across six different nations before relocating to Lens this week. The former Arsenal shot-stopper had been with Roma, where he did not make a single league appearance in the 2024/25 season; his only outing for the Italian side came in a 4-1 Coppa Italia win over Sampdoria in December.

Albert Grønbaek

After establishing himself at the Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt, Danish midfielder Albert Grønbæk soon caught the eye of clubs from Europe’s top five leagues, leading to a move to Rennes last summer. This season, Grønbæk has played in all but one of their opening 17 league matches, contributing two goals and one assist, although he’s completed a full 90 minutes only once. Now, Grønbæk will continue his development in England with relegation-threatened Southampton, who hope he can play a vital role as they fight to maintain their Premier League status.

Diego Carlos

The writing seemed to be on the wall for centre-back Diego Carlos, as he was no longer guaranteed a regular starting position at Aston Villa. The Brazilian was an unused substitute in seven of their first 18 league matches and was not included in the squad for two of those fixtures. Carlos was then ruled out due to a foot injury, and he played his final game for the Villains in a 2-2 draw against Brighton on December 30. That match marked his 58th appearance since joining from Sevilla. He is now set to work under José Mourinho at Fenerbahçe, who are in pursuit of the Turkish championship. The Yellow Canaries currently sit second, six points behind Galatasaray, and they possess the league’s best defence, having conceded just 18 goals in 19 matches.

Julio Enciso

Julio Enciso recently ended a goal drought for Brighton, but the impressive Paraguayan attacking midfielder will not be adding to his tally for the Seagulls this season. He is temporarily joining Ipswich until the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. Enciso leaves a mid-table Premier League side, who are chasing European football, to join one that is fighting to stay in England’s top division.

Randal Kolo Muani

A number of European super clubs showed interest in signing Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt, but ultimately, the Bondy-born forward chose to return to France, joining Paris Saint-Germain. So far, his time at PSG has not been the most productive, with only eight goals in 36 league appearances since the summer of 2023. Given the competitive nature of the attacking spots under Luis Enrique, he has decided to go on loan to Juventus, where he hopes to find more opportunities for development.

Devyne Rensch

This is a familiar pathway: Ajax to Italy, with Devyne Rensch being the latest to take this route. Rensch has experienced a resurgence at Ajax after a period during which it seemed unlikely he would develop into a right-back capable of securing a move to one of Europe’s top five leagues. This transfer is just the beginning for Rensch, who has much to prove under the esteemed Claudio Ranieri. The much-travelled coach has preferred to utilise a back three, which means Rensch could be deployed as a right centre-back—an area where he has plenty of experience playing in central defence—or as a wing-back.

Elye Wahi

Replacing Marmoush’s goals will not be easy, but Frankfurt must make the effort. Marmoush leaves after contributing to 36% of their Bundesliga strikes. Despite having 15 different goalscorers, only one player, Hugo Ekitike, has scored more than three goals. This situation has led the German side to seek a reinforcement or a replacement for Marmoush. Elye Wahi from Marseille has been identified as the candidate for this role. The 22-year-old arrives with a record of three goals in 13 Ligue 1 matches this season, but this signing represents a long-term investment, as the Frenchman has committed to the club until June 2030.

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