From Vidic to Van Dijk: Ranking the top 5 January signings in Premier League history

The January transfer window is open for business, allowing Premier League teams a chance to address mid-season issues.

Introduced in the 2002/03 campaign, the winter window has delivered some of the most notable deals in the league’s history. Some still suggest there’s no value to be found in January, but this list makes a mockery of that.

5. Branislav Ivanovic - Lokomotiv Moscow to Chelsea , £9m (2008)

Not unlike others on this list, Branislav Ivanovic took a while to get going in English football. The Serbian was not seen for his first six months at Chelsea , but grew into a formidable player for the Blues.

A brutish presence, Ivanovic locked down the right-back role for almost a decade, mixing defensive aggression with a penchant for important goals.

His nine major trophies included three league titles, while it was Ivanovic’s goal at the death that won Chelsea the Europa League against Benfica in 2013.

4. Patrice Evra - AS Monaco to Manchester United , £5.5m (2006)

Patrice Evra admitted he questioned the decision to move to England during a tough start at Manchester United , with the left-back hooked at half-time on his debut in the Manchester Derby.

Fortunately, for both club and player, the Frenchman was made of stern stuff. With the tenacity he regularly showed in shackling wingers, Evra dug in to become an Old Trafford favourite.

His combination of pace, power and competitive edge made Evra one of the league’s best left-backs.

3. Luis Suarez - Ajax to Liverpool , £22m (2011)

It seems odd on reflection that Liverpool had a free run at signing Suarez in 2011.

On a bonkers deadline day, Liverpool lost Fernando Torres to Chelsea in a record deal, but reinvested those funds into Suarez and Andy Carroll. While the latter floundered, Suarez became even better than the man he was bought to replace.

The Uruguayan recorded 128 goals and assists in 133 games for the Reds, with his final season one of the Premier League ’s great individual campaigns.

Suarez hit 31 goals in 33 league games, adding 12 assists, as Liverpool agonisingly finished as runners-up.

Controversial and clinical in equal measure, he joined Barcelona in 2014 and cemented his place as one of the all-time great goalscorers.

2. Virgil van Dijk - Southampton to Liverpool , £75m (2018)

After a failed pursuit in the summer, Liverpool returned for Van Dijk in January 2018 and stumped up a record fee to land the Dutch defender. Eyebrows were raised as Liverpool made Van Dijk the most expensive defender in history, but he’s repaid that fee and some across his time at Anfield.

Van Dijk immediately fixed the Achilles’ heel in Jurgen Klopp’s side, marked his debut with a goal against Everton, and did not look back.

His first full season ended with Champions League success and the PFA Player of the Year award, becoming just the third defender to win the prize in the Premier League era. Since then, he’s completed a clean sweep of honours, including two league titles, the latter lifted as captain.

He might just be the best centre-back the Premier League has seen, but is beaten by another on this list…

1. Nemanja Vidic - Spartak Moscow to Manchester United , £7m (2006)

Nemanja Vidic arrived at Manchester United back in a time when transfers still had some mystery.

The Serbian centre-back was an unknown quantity, but Premier League forwards soon found out all about Manchester United ’s new man-mountain. After a rocky start, Vidic became a colossal presence at Old Trafford.

As brave as they come, he became a huge favourite for his willingness to put his body on the line for the cause.

Five league titles, the Champions League, and two Premier League Player of the Season awards are just some of the accolades he claimed in Manchester.