It has often been said that the January window is a terrible time for Premier League clubs to conduct transfer business.
Bringing in new faces halfway through the season is often an indication that things have not gone well during the first few months, and owners subsequently appear to be throwing the dice to change their club's fortunes.
However, while there have been plenty of awful transfers born out of desperation at the start of the new year, some clubs have completed some of their best-ever deals in January since the window was introduced for the 2002/03 campaign.
Here, we run you through the best Premier League January transfers. Of course, this is only our opinion and is therefore not definitive, so don't be too upset if we don't include one of your team's signings!
All playing stats are taken from Transfermarkt to ensure consistency.
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10. James Tarkowski to Burnley, 2016
Several names could have taken tenth on this list, but Tarkowski gets the nod. Burnley were unfancied throughout much of their six years in the top flight between 2016 and 2022, but the English defender was pivotal in keeping the Clarets amongst the elite for so long.
Burnley were promoted within six months of Tarkowski's arrival, and the former Brentford man soon became one of the Premier League's most reliable centre-backs. He even earned two England caps in 2018.
He was unable to keep the Lancashire outfit in the Premier League in 2021/22 but had Burnley cashed in on their star asset on one of the many occasions when there was interest, they would have been relegated a lot sooner.
9. John Stones to Everton, 2013
Stones was just 18 and had made only 24 Championship appearances for Barnsley when Everton snapped him up for just £3m.
It would prove to be one of the few bits of inspired business by the Toffees over the past ten years. Stones gradually improved throughout his time at Goodison Park, earning his first England cap whilst playing for the club.
Just three years later, Manchester City moved to capture the centre-back, paying £47.5m, plus add-ons, for the then-21-year-old. That represented a profit of more than 1500% for Everton, and Stones himself is now a four-time Premier League winner and has played in a World Cup semi-final and a European Championships final.
8. Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool, 2013
Sturridge had already impressed at Bolton during the 2010/11 campaign after making a loan switch halfway through the season by the time Liverpool paid £12m to take him to Anfield from Chelsea two years later.
The England international hit the ground running, scoring ten in 14 Premier League games during the rest of that season.
The following term, though, was particularly special, as Sturridge formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez, known as the SAS. The ex-Manchester City youngster and the Uruguayan almost fired Liverpool to a first league title in 25 years, with the former scoring 21 in 29 games. Injuries, unfortunately, prevented him from reaching his true potential, but he still departed Merseyside with 67 goals in 160 games for the Reds and as a fan favourite.
7. Branislav Ivanovic to Chelsea, 2007
Ivanovic was a relative unknown when the Blues paid a Russian record £9.7m to Spartak Moscow in January of 2008.
He didn't make a single appearance during the remainder of the 2007/08 campaign as Chelsea reached the Champions League final, but he was a stalwart either in central defence or on the right of the back four for the best part of the next decade.
He departed Stamford Bridge in 2017 with four Premier League titles, and also won a Champions League, although he didn't play in the final due to suspension as Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich on penalties. The Serbian wasn't averse to a goal, either, finding the back of the net on more than 30 occasions.
6. Gary Cahill to Chelsea, 2012
Chelsea spent £50m on Fernando Torres in 2011, and it was clear they were looking to be shrewder in the market 12 months later.
Fortunately for the Blues, Cahill was available, and they paid just £7m for a player who would have a huge impact on the side in the coming seasons.
Within six months, Cahill was a Champions League winner, playing the whole 120 minutes versus Bayern in the final despite still suffering from an injury picked up in the semi-final second leg against Barcelona. When he ultimately left the club seven years later, he had won eight major trophies, almost all of which he had heavily contributed to, and had captained Chelsea for two years after John Terry's exit.
5. Philippe Coutinho to Liverpool, 2013
Given the trajectory of Coutinho's career, it is easy to forget just how good he was following his move to Liverpool from Internazionale in 2013.
He was just a fresh-faced 20-year-old with plenty of potential then, but he soon became the Reds' key creative outlet.
By the time Barcelona paid £105m to take him to Spain in 2018 - another January switch - the Brazilian was one of the biggest talents on the planet and looked destined for greatness. It hasn't worked out that way, but for Liverpool, who signed him for just £8.5m, his signing was a stroke of genius.
4. Patrice Evra to Manchester United, 2006
United had arguably not replaced Dennis Irwin, who left for Wolves four years earlier when they announce the arrival of Evra from Monaco in 2006.
It took a short while for the Frenchman to adapt to the English game but, when he settled, he was a crucial component of a side that won five Premier League titles and reached three Champions League finals, winning one.
After more than 300 appearances for the Red Devils across eight years before his departure, it is fair to say he is a club legend.
3. Luis Suarez to Liverpool, 2011
Although Torres was no longer at his best by 2011, his transfer to Chelsea was a blow, and it meant Liverpool needed to bring in a top-quality replacement.
Andy Carroll could not succeed at Anfield, but his fellow January arrival, Suarez, will go down as one of the club's best-ever strikers.
He only spent four years at the club, but still managed 82 goals in 133 games. Thirty-one of those strikes helped him win the 2013/14 Golden Boot, and he was also named the PFA Players' Player of the Year during the same season. When Barcelona came calling, he made it obvious he wished to move on and, while that may have left a sour taste in the mouths of some supporters, there was no denying his incredible impact.
2. Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool, 2018
Few individual transfers have been as important as van Dijk's switch to Liverpool from Southampton in 2018.
Jurgen Klopp had already started to work some of his magic by then, but he needed a world-class centre-half to complete his team. Step forward the colossal Dutchman. His £75m transfer fee was a then-world record for a defender, and there were some questions as to whether it was wise to part with such money, but he proved to be worth every penny.
By the end of the season, Liverpool were the Champions League runners-up. Within 18 months, they had won the competition, and they were crowned Premier League champions in 2020. While there are plenty of top players in Liverpool's side, their success would not have been possible without van Dijk.
1. Nemanja Vidic to Manchester United, 2005
Some would argue van Dijk is the greatest Premier League centre-back of all time. However, there are a select group who would have something to say about that claim, including Vidic.
Spartak Moscow, it seems, have a penchant for discovering talented defenders - the Serbian is the second Gladiators alumni to feature on this list.
He soon became one of the most menacing centre-halves in the division and, alongside Rio Ferdinand, he was incredibly difficult to get past. In nine years at Old Trafford, he clinched five Premier League titles and the 2007/08 Champions League, proving to be one of United's greatest signings.
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