From Semenyo to Bobb: the most expensive signings of the winter transfer period

Clubs around the world will look to finalize their squads for the second half of the 2025-2026 season as the winter transfer window comes to an end.

Premier League clubs are again the biggest spenders, with an estimated €450 million in transfer fees, and Manchester City is the highest-spending club, spending around €115 million.

Here are the top five most expensive signings during the winter transfer window:

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth to Manchester City – €77 million)

The 26-year-old joined the eight-time Premier League champions after a breakthrough season in 2024/25, where he registered 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances for Bournemouth. In the current season he scored 14 goals and four assists in 26 appearances in all competitions.

Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United to Flamengo – €42 million)

After being linked to several clubs in recent transfer windows, Brazilian Lucas Paqueta finally got a move from West Ham United to Flamengo, the team where he started his career. His €42 million move made him the most expensive signing for a South American club.

Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur – €40 million)

After a decent start in Madrid in the 2024/2025 season, Conor Gallagher eventually disappeared from Atletico’s starting XI in his second season at the club. His move to Tottenham comes at a crucial time for the club, which has been hit by injuries, particularly in midfield, with James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall all ruled out for extended periods.

Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur to Crystal Palace – €40 million)

Crystal Palace secured the services of Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur on a four-year contract. The 24-year-old was Tottenham’s top scorer last season with 18 goals in all competitions, including the Europa League final winner against Manchester United.

Oscar Bobb (Manchester City to Fulham – €31.2 million)

The Norwegian winger’s career at Manchester City looked promising, but injuries and competition in the squad resulted in his move to the London club. The 22-year-old will now look to get some valuable game time ahead of the World Cup in the summer.

Published on February 2, 2026