The January transfer window is one where clubs may struggle to find value but can bring in players to have an instant impact midway through the season and change their fortunes.
Whether it’s to help win a trophy, qualify for Europe or avoid relegation, the arrival of one player can help turn a season around, and even provide a spark in the cups.
We’ve listed 12 players who joined in a January transfer window and settled instantly, having an immediate impact on their side in achieving their goals.
Luis Diaz
The Colombian winger joined Liverpool from Porto in January, and has lit up Anfield since.
If Liverpool do win the quadruple, his impact will have been a big factor…
READ: Luis Diaz’s tears of glory were an ode to his hard-built superspeed impact
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United struck gold when they paid around £68million for the Sporting midfielder, who hit the ground running, winning back to back Player of the Month awards and scoring 12 times in his first 22 games, helping United finish third in the league.
He has received his share of criticism, but his end product has been world-class since he arrived at Old Trafford.
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool were on the verge of building a great team with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane tearing the Premier League apart, but were very leaky at the back.
£75million was then spent on Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, and the rest is history.
Liverpool reached the Champions League final within the Dutch defender’s first six months, and despite losing to Real Madrid in Kyiv, Van Dijk transformed Liverpool into a force almost instantly.
Papiss Cisse
A player that ‘the streets will never forget,’ the Senegalese striker formed a deadly partnership with Demba Ba at Newcastle, after joining in January 2012 from Freiburg.
With an astonishing 13 goals in 14 appearances, Cisse helped Newcastle finish fifth, meaning they qualified for the Europa League, and this included scoring two stunners away at Chelsea.
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