Ranking the Top 16 Deals of the 2015 January Transfer Window
The end of the 2014-15 campaign is almost upon us and as is annual tradition, some January transfers have proven to be more beneficial than many others.
Europe's winter transfer window is often a difficult time in which to do business, but there are those clubs who have managed to make superb use of the mid-season opening.
We've selected 16 of the best January 2015 deals examining a host of key factors such as transfer cost, the magnitude of a signing and, perhaps most importantly, said arrival's impact in their new surroundings.
The impact of each transfer may differ greatly, but a player may still make the list based on their previous credentials and what may yet come for them in the future.
Let us know in the forum below which players you think should have been included and which players you don't feel should have made the cut.
16. Victor Valdes
1 of 16
From: Free Agency
To: Manchester United
Having only made his Premier League debut in last weekend's 1-1 draw against Arsenal, it's fair to say Victor Valdes has had the least impact of any player included on our list.
However, the ex-Barca stopper could nevertheless prove to be a superb capture for Manchester United, having signed for the Red Devils on a free transfer in January after leaving Catalonia last summer.
At 33 years of age, Valdes still has more football left in him than some might suggest and ex-United 'keeper Raimond van der Gouw has told BBC Sport he can even replace David de Gea should the No. 1 leave this summer:
"With what he knows about football and the way he is playing, he is perfect for United. He can play for another three or four years in a top team. Van der Sar played and did a great job."
With only 16 minutes of Premier League football under his belt, it may be a tad early for comparisons with Van der Sar, but Valdes brings a great deal of experience to Old Trafford. He's won six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.
15. Jozy Altidore
2 of 16
From: Sunderland
To: Toronto FC
Is United States striker Jozy Altidore a player of Premier League calibre? His return of three goals in 52 Sunderland appearances would suggest not, but Toronto FC are certainly glad they invested in his talents.
What's more, Toronto actually conducted a bit of fine business in managing to sell Sunderland the want-away Jermain Defoe in return for Altidore plus a cash fee.
It was clear from the beginning Altidore was cut out to be a hit in Major League Soccer, bagging a brace against Vancouver Whitecaps.
Now with six goals from nine appearances, the forward looks more like the prolific figure he cast while with AZ Alkmaar, and Toronto are only too happy to have taken a risk on staging his MLS return.
14. Victor Ibarbo
3 of 16
From: Cagliari
To: Roma (loan)
Colombian assets have been valuable commodities in recent years and although Victor Ibarbo's renown isn't as great as that of Radamel Falcao or Juan Cuadrado, Roma picked up a fine short-term deal upon securing his loan in February.
The jury is still out on whether the Giallorossi should make his switch from Cagliari permanent this summer, with the player having failed to register a goal or an assist since making the move to the capital.
However, the statistics don't necessarily speak well enough of Ibarbo's contributions as a lot of his worth to Roma has come from endeavour and the work rate he adds to their front-line setup.
The 25-year-old forward already has well over 100 Serie A appearances to his name and has proven tireless in tying down a regular starting spot under Rudi Garcia, an admirable trait in itself.
13. Maxwel Cornet
4 of 16
From: Metz
To: Lyon
Arguably one of the hottest prospects in Ligue 1 right now, 18-year-old Maxwel Cornet is yet to make any trembling top-flight statement, but the future is bright for one of Lyon's latest recruits.
Having climbed the youth ranks at Metz for the past decade, Cornet is already well-established in the international setup and has eight goals in 14 appearances for the under-19 squad.
The Associated Press (h/t Washington Times) reported Cornet's transfer fee as an extremely modest sum of €200,000, and it would be no surprise to see Lyon's renowned youth infrastructure develop the forward into a top talent.
12. Thomas Ince
5 of 16
From: Hull City
To: Derby County (loan)
It's no odd thing for a Championship club to benefit from feeding off the scraps of their Premier League superiors, but Derby County landed a little more than that when they got their hands on Hull City fringe star Tom Ince.
It may not have been enough to clinch a playoff spot for the Rams, but Ince's 11 goals in 24 Championship appearances were nonetheless a massive boost for a club looking to make the move up.
There was a mid-loan lull where the attacker's record of two goals in 11 appearances wasn't quite the prolific form Derby were seeking, but it's been clear for other stretches Ince is meant for something more.
The 23-year-old will now make his return to Hull slightly wiser for the experience, although it may still be England's second tier in which he'll be looking to make an impact next term.
11. Lucas Silva
6 of 16
From: Cruzeiro
To: Real Madrid
Arriving at the Bernabeu as one of, if not the highest-rated prospect in Brazilian football at the time of his departure, Cruzeiro product Lucas Silva is being tipped for a major future in world football.
Along with that, his transfer cost of £11.5 million (via MailOnline's Sean Gallagher) was far from the huge figure Real Madrid are used to paying out, meaning the potential upside of his capture has no bounds at this juncture.
Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti has shown huge trust in the 22-year-old, too, with Silva having already made nine appearances for Real since his January switch, albeit needing time to adapt in Spain.
Real clearly have faith in Silva to become an elite talent after awarding him a five-and-a-half-year deal and with both Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi potentially both leaving the club, he could find his chances increase next term.
10. Mattia Destro
7 of 16
From: Roma
To: Milan (loan)
It's difficult to blame Mattia Destro after he opted to head for the Roma exit in January, with chances somewhat limited at the Stadio Olimpico and the Rossoneri offering better hopes of playing time.
The 24-year-old is still seeking consistent form almost four months after completing a loan move to Milan, having netted three league goals in 11 starts, but the Ascoli native could yet turn great.
His run at Milan has told a similar tale to that of his time with the Giallorossi, with flashes of brilliance struggling to be backed up with goals and it remains uncertain as to whether he'll move to Milan permanently.
The Italy international does, however, give the Rossoneri a young and possibly brilliant frontman, who gives the sense that all he really needs is one prolific run to start on a more elite path.
9. Darren Fletcher
8 of 16
From: Manchester United
To: West Bromwich Albion
His troubles with a debilitating stomach condition made the last couple of years at Manchester United difficult to endure, but Darren Fletcher has found a new home with West Brom that could blossom into something beautiful.
Now having overcome the problems caused by his ulcerative colitis, Fletcher is giving the Baggies a classy impact in central midfield—and the fact he arrived at the Hawthorns for free simply makes his capture all the sweeter.
The temptation is to see the Scotland international as a charity case, but West Brom boss Tony Pulis will look at his captain as anything but after benefiting so much from his contributions of wisdom in the dressing room.
Not only that, the 31-year-old, with all the experience that comes with four Premier League triumphs, a Champions League crown and one FA Cup, still cuts a talented shape in the Baggies' engine room.
8. Mohamed Salah
9 of 16
From: Chelsea
To: Fiorentina (loan)
Mohamed Salah instantly improved Fiorentina's fortunes after moving to the Italian outfit in February and although that traction has slowed somewhat of late, he's still contributed an awful lot to Vincenzo Montella's side.
Arriving in Florence as part of the deal that saw Juan Cuadrado complete his switch to Chelsea, the Egypt international bagged a goal and assist in just his second outing for La Viola to show he could still be a major name.
Salah was a sensation at Basel, but he hadn't really been gifted the chances to showcase his best at Stamford Bridge; now with nine goals as a Fiorentina player, he's reminding Europe just why he was so sought-after.
There was a barren patch between April and May where the 22-year-old failed to score for nine consecutive games, but when examining his age and how demanding Fiorentina's schedule has been, it's hardly surprising.
7. Matija Nastasic
10 of 16
From: Manchester City
To: Schalke
It took Schalke less than two months to decide that Matija Nastasic's six-month loan from Manchester City was worth turning into a permanent deal and the centre-back penned a four-year agreement in March.
With his chronic knee issues seemingly behind him, the Serbia international is once again impressing as part of a first-team lineup, and it could come to be that the Citizens slightly regret agreeing his departure.
The Miners have kept five clean sheets and conceded 15 goals in Nastasic's 15 Bundesliga outings, suggesting the 22-year-old has certainly made an impact at the back.
To put that figure into context, Schalke had managed to keep just five clean sheets in the 17 games this season prior to his transfer, leaking 21 goals.
6. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
11 of 16
From: Newcastle United
To: Roma
Medhi Benatia's departure for Bayern Munich last summer put pressure on Roma to reinforce their back line and the initial loan signing of Newcastle United's Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa looked a savvy acquisition.
Four months later, the Giallorossi triggered a clause in the Frenchman's deal that saw them clinch his permanent signature for a fee of £5.5 million, per BBC Sport. That's a very affordable expenditure.
Considering that price, Yanga-Mbiwa has looked great value for money and the likelihood is he'll only continue to improve the longer he features in Serie A, with his maiden campaign certainly a positive one.
Granted, Roma were still a distant second to Juventus and didn't compete in Europe as they may have liked, but Roma look to have poached one of the Magpies' finest, conceding only 28 league goals this term, the second-stingiest tally.
5. Riccardo Saponara
12 of 16
From: Milan
To: Empoli (loan)
Riccardo Saponara managed to make just eight appearances for Milan in the two years after moving to the San Siro in January 2013, but his parent club may now think about handing him more opportunities.
That's thanks to the 23-year-old's inspired stretch of form since moving back to former club Empoli on loan this past January, lending the Blues a major hand in securing their Serie A survival.
Saponara's productivity has been particularly encouraging since late March and he's managed to score seven goals and make three assists in 15 loan appearances—not bad for a player ostracised at his parent outfit.
4. Robert Huth
13 of 16
From: Stoke City
To: Leicester City (loan)
Leicester City's form in the past two months has been nothing short of phenomenal and the loan signing of Robert Huth has been a somewhat understated part of the club's rise to securing their top-flight future.
Admittedly, a record of just one defeat in the Foxes' last eight outings can't be solely attributed to the Stoke City man, but his monolithic presence has assuredly aided the club a great deal in strengthening their spine.
Prior to February, the club had won only four games and taken just four clean sheets, but Nigel Pearson's men have now won six of those last eight and kept six clean sheets since Huth's arrival.
It's of little surprise to see the Independent's Samuel Stevens report Pearson wants to sign the German permanently, having squeezed plenty of value out of his temporary acquisition already.
3. Ryan Bertrand
14 of 16
From: Chelsea
To: Southampton
Things were never quite simple for Ryan Bertrand at Chelsea, having to play understudy to Ashley Cole for some years before right-back Cesar Azpilicueta superseded him and 2014 arrival Filipe Luis blocked his path further.
It was therefore wise of the 2011-12 Champions League winner to make headway for Southampton last summer, initially on loan before completing a £10 million deal in February, per the Daily Mail's Hamish Mackay.
Considering Chelsea were already well on track to becoming Premier League champions, some might have pondered whether it was the right move, but after taking his place in this season's PFA Team of the Year, Bertrand can feel content.
Having made 33 Premier League appearances this term, the 25-year-old can only be too happy to have played his part in the Saints' rise to European contention, standing out as one of Europe's best full-backs.
2. Manolo Gabbiadini
15 of 16
From: Sampdoria
To: Napoli
The left boot of Manolo Gabbiadini is now a weapon well-known to the Serie A legions and a January move to Napoli has only further boosted the forward's reputation as a rising power among Italy's ranks.
The 23-year-old spent the last few seasons swapping his loyalties in co-ownership between Juventus and Sampdoria, but the Azzurri are now pleased to own Gabbiadini outright, an investment already paying dividends.
Altogether, Gabbiadini has 15 goals in 31 appearances this season, eight of those coming since his January move to Naples, showing no signs of a hangover in adapting under Rafa Benitez.
Although clearly a capable figure in front of goal, it only helps Napoli further that Gabbiadini is such a versatile player across the forward line, and it won't be long until his devastating left foot gains further renown.
1. Bernardo Silva
16 of 16
From: Benfica
To: Monaco
Big-spending Monaco have become accustomed to signing players in their prime over the last few years, but Bernardo Silva's €15.75 million winter capture from Benfica was a superb example of scouting to grand effect.
The Portugal international arrived on the French Riviera in a season-long loan last summer, but the 20-year-old quickly did enough to convince the Ligue 1 giants he was worth more significant investment.
It's a move that's paying off big time and the young Silva, who made only one Primeira Liga appearance for Benfica prior to his departure, looks as though he could be the next great Portuguese playmaker.
More than that, however, Silva also has a great penchant for goals and has bagged nine in his 31 Ligue 1 outings this term, accumulating a great deal of Champions League experience in the process.
It's that kind of form that's earned the starlet full international honours and not only have Monaco sealed the loyalties of a figure who looks destined for great things, but one who's producing marvels right now.
All statistics come courtesy of WhoScored.com and Transfermarkt.
