6 Key January Transfer Signings Who Secured the Trophy

Football has seen unbelievable January transfer window signings who instantly made an impact in their new teams. Some went on to win a trophy in their debut and others did not. One good example would be Bruno Fernandes.

The Portugal international came into the Manchester United squad, started firing on all cylinders and proved that he was worth every penny paid for him from Sporting CP.
Manchester United were able to sign Bruno Fernandes, who became an inspiration to the team, thanks to the January transfer window.

The January transfer window in football provides an opportunity for teams with lackluster performances to improve their squad and for bigger teams to push for silverware by signing players to bolster their ranks

While some January transfer signings may not be a big hit immediately at a club some players have gone on to demonstrate that they can be the missing piece of the puzzle for any club seeking cup glory.

In this article, we will take a look at six players who made an impact after joining their clubs mid-season in the winter transfer market and eventually won a trophy.

1. Gary Cahill (Bolton to Chelsea 2012) – UCL and FA Cup

The 2011-12 season was very special for Chelsea. The London club had a fairy tale run that was capped off with winning the coveted UEFA Champions League despite finishing sixth on the EPL table.

One player that became a key figure in their UCL run was Gary Cahill.
The Englishman was signed from Bolton Wanderers in the January transfer market after an impressive showing.

Cahill quickly established himself as a lifeline for Chelsea, showcasing sheer bravery that made him a fan favorite. One unforgettable moment was his trademark block against Barcelona in the knockout stages of the UCL.

Gary picked up an injury against Barcelona in the semi-final, but with the unavailability of John Terry and Ivanovic, he was called upon to play through the pain.

He held off the Bayern barrage in the final as Chelsea won the match on penalties. Cahill also helped the Blues to FA Cup glory, winning the final against Liverpool with a score line of 2-1.

2. Jose Antonio Reyes (Sevilla to Arsenal 2004) – EPL

Reyes was a consistent figure for Sevilla during his time in the Spanish La Liga. Fresh from making his La Liga debut as a teenager, he scored a total of 21 goals in the four years that followed with the Andalusians.

This earned him a £10 million transfer to the Gunners in the January transfer window of 2004. The left winger was versatile in attack and showed promise for Arsenal. Of course, the Gunners were undefeated in the 2003-04 season but this wouldn’t have been possible without Reyes’s goals in the penultimate two games of the season.

The former Spain international would go on to join a host of clubs including Real Madrid and a return back to Sevilla.

Read More: 5 Players Who Chose Chelsea Over Liverpool

3. Nemanja Vidic (Spartak Moscow to Man United 2006) – League Cup

Manchester United fans remember Vidic as a club icon because of his defensive prowess and the plethora of trophies he won at the club which includes the UCL.

He arrived at Old Trafford during the January transfer window after almost signing for Fiorentina in Italy.

The Serbian was a hot product for clubs in Europe at the time, but eventually decided to sign for the Red Devils.

The then 24-year-old may not have had many appearances in his debut season, but he featured in the squad that won the League Cup.

Vidic replaced an injured Wes Brown in the final against Wigan Athletic and went on to lift the League Cup trophy with his teammates.

Read More: Champions League Triumphs: 6 Free Agents Who Led Their Clubs to Glory

4. Patrice Evra (Monaco to Man United 2006) – League Cup

Patrice Evra as we know him is regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation. Evra was a well rounded left-back, starting his career in the Ligue 1. His excellent displays eventually led to Manchester United’s interest in his services.

Just like Vidic, Evra joined the English club in the January transfer window from Monaco. At the time, he claimed that Manchester United was the club of his dreams. His debut season at the club ended with a League Cup win against Wigan Athletic.

Evra would go on to win the UCL once, the EPL, League Cup and Community Shield on multiple occasions in the seasons that followed.

5. Luis Suarez (Ajax to Liverpool 2011) – League Cup

An out of sorts Liverpool team prized Luis Suarez away from Ajax, in what would become an excellent transfer business considering the career Suarez is still having.

Suarez broke out as one of Europe’s most promising strikers during his time at Ajax.
He joined Liverpool in the January transfer window of 2011 and proved to be one of the best players for the Merseyside club in that season. Suarez helped the club go from 12th place to finishing in sixth place on the log.

He contributed four goals in 13 appearances and was instrumental in Liverpool’s League Cup win against Cardiff. Suarez later had his best years at the club in the seasons that followed and is arguably regarded as the best goal scorer after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in football.

Read More: Chelsea’s Top 3 Swap Deals That Made a Difference

6. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal to Chelsea 2018) – FA Cup

On the last day of the January 2018 transfer window, Chelsea signed Giroud from rivals, Arsenal for an undisclosed fee. The French striker was a tried and tested Premier League player and would easily gel with the rest of the squad.

Giroud contributed crucial goals and assists that saw Chelsea advance through to the FA Cup final and eventually beat arch rivals, Manchester United to lift the trophy.