Top Transfers – January 2024
By Neel Shelat
Top Transfers: January 2024
As the January transfer window goes on, we will be updating a periodic column focused on some of the most notable moves in recent days, using Smarterscout’s advanced metrics and league benchmarking to forecast how they might pan out.
02/20/24
Hugo Cuypers (Gent to Chicago Fire)
The Chicago Fire have announced a club-record deal to sign Hugo Cuypers.
The widely-hyped Gent striker in 2023 was Gift Orban, but Cuypers quietly played a crucial role in their strike partnership. His attacking output was pretty handy too as he consistently got in the box to pose a shooting threat, while also making runs into the channel to chase down long balls.
He also showed some good glimpses of link-up play and passing toward goal, but the Fire will be more interested in the aforementioned qualities having been among the lowest-scoring teams in MLS last season.
Amahl Pellegrino (Bodø/Glimt to San Jose Earthquakes)
The San Jose Earthquakes seem to have gotten a steal of a deal in signing Amahl Pellegrino for a reported transfer fee of just $280,000.
He has been sensational in the last four years in Norway, so our model expects him to absolutely tear MLS up.
The 33-year-old winger is capable of the spectacular. His exceptional close control makes it very tough to get the ball off him, and his consistent positioning in dangerous areas coupled with shooting and creating threat enable him to keep up a very high level of attacking output.
Igor Thiago (Club Brugge to Brentford)
Brentford have struck a deal to sign Igor Thiago for a club-record fee of €37 million.
The Brazilian striker only moved to Belgium last summer after just over a year in Bulgaria with Ludogorets. Our model was impressed by his work in the Brazilian second tier with Cruzeiro too, judging him to be operating at a decent level for the English Premier League as far back as 2021.
Thiago’s greatest strengths include his excellent aerial ability and general strength in duels, which make him a brilliant target striker who can hold the ball up very well. He can be a threatening presence in the box too, although our model thinks his shooting could improve despite his return of 16 goals in the Belgian Pro League already this season.
As rumours continue to swirl around a potential departure for Ivan Toney, Brentford’s big investment in Thiago appears to be a case of succession planning.
Joseph Paintsil (Genk to LA Galaxy)
The LA Galaxy have signed Joseph Painstil from Genk.
Our model believes this move is going to be a surefire success. In the last couple of seasons in Belgium, the Ghanaian international has consistently performed at a very high level both as right winger and as an attacking midfielder. If he maintains that level, he will easily be a standout player in MLS.
The 26-year-old forward has produced a great deal of attacking output while maintaining a very high degree of ball retention. His multifaceted threat which includes dribbling, chance creation and shooting from dangerous positions is sure to cause lots of problems for defenses around America and Canada.
Luis Muriel (Atalanta to Orlando City)
Luis Muriel has signed for Orlando City.
The only potential question mark about this move is the Colombian striker’s fitness and ability to play consistent minutes, as he made just two starts at Atalanta this season and spent his entire stint at the club as more of an impact substitute.
As far as ability goes, though, our model is absolutely certain of the fact that he can tear up MLS if he hits the levels he showed a couple of years ago.
Muriel’s exceptional attacking output is built on a multidimensional threat. He can be a menacing dribbler when he picks up the ball and drives towards goal, can play very dangerous forward passes and, of course, pose a serious shooting threat in and around the box.
Dennis Gjengaar (Odd to New York Red Bulls)
Dennis Gjengaar has moved from Norway to MLS.
The New York Red Bulls have signed the 19-year-old attacker on the back of a breakout season at Odd, for whom he saw a good deal of game time on the right wing and in some central roles. His standout attribute was his link-up passing, and he also offered decent ball retention.
Our model believes he still needs some work to get up to the MLS standard, but this move is yet another case that backs up the league’s growing status as a hub for international youth development.
Jovan Mijatović (Crvena zvezda to New York City FC)
Teenage Serbian attacker Jovan Mijatović has been signed by New York City FC.
The 18-year-old Belgrade-born forward has not seen a great deal of senior action so far in his career, but the few glimpses he has shown have been stellar. In close to 500 minutes as a CAM/SS this season, he has blown our model away with his attacking output, box presence, shooting and aerial strength.
If he manages to sustain this level of performance, he is expected to be an instant hit in MLS. €10 million might seem quite a hefty sum for such a youngster, but his potential should justify it.
02/02/24
Arthur Vermeeren (Royal Antwerp to Atlético Madrid)
Arthur Vermeeren has been snapped up by Atlético Madrid.
The highly-rated Belgian youngster enjoyed a breakout season at Royal Antwerp last season as he helped them end a very long wait for a Pro League title, and has continued to hold down a spot in defensive midfield this term.
His defensive work can be decent enough for La Liga, but our model has been more impressed by his excellent link-up passing and good ball retention. These qualities should make him well-suited to Atléti’s current approach, which has become more possession-focused.
Borja Iglesias (Real Betis to Bayer Leverkusen on loan)
Bayer Leverkusen have brought in Borja Iglesias.
Die Werkself have signed a striker to bolster their title charge after talisman Victor Boniface suffered an injury that will keep him out for a few months. Clearly, then, Iglesias’ primary and immediate responsibility will be to replace the Nigerian international.
Comparing the two, we see that Iglesias is a pretty good fit profile-wise, but will need to improve his shooting and attacking output, retain the ball a little bit better and show greater strength in duels to properly replace the Nigerian international.
Sacha Boey (Galatasaray to Bayern Munich)
Sacha Boey has signed for Bayern Munich.
We highlighted Bayern’s need for a right-back in our pre-window analysis, and we’d also picked out Boey as a standout performer earlier on in the season, so we naturally think this is a very smart move.
The Frenchman has excelled in the Süper Lig since leaving Ligue 1, developing into a very well-rounded full-back.
Our model believes his defensive work will translate very well to the Bundesliga thanks to his excellent defending quantity and strength in duels, and he should also prove to be quite handy in possession as he can retain the ball well, facilitate good link-up passing as well as offering some dribbling threat.
Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton to Juventus)
Carlos Alcaraz has made the move to Juventus.
The young Argentine midfielder has spent each of the last three seasons in three different leagues, as he moved from Argentine side Racing Club to Southampton, who were then relegated from the English Premier League to the Championship. In each of these divisions, Alcaraz’s performance has impressed our model, so we should expect more of the same in Serie A.
His well-roundedness between balancing attacking output and defending quality seems the perfect balance for Juventus’ 5-3-2 formation. His excellent link-up passing and shooting threat in particular should also be able to add some more final third threat to what is a typically defense-first side.
Gabriel Pec (Vasco da Gama to LA Galaxy)
LA Galaxy have paid around $10 million to sign Gabriel Pec.
The 22-year-old Brazilian forward is a versatile winger who can deal damage from either flank. His work for Vasco last season got him into double digits in terms of goal involvements, convincing our model of his readiness for MLS in the process.
What stands out in Gabriel Pec’s numbers is his excellent attacking output being matched by ball retention. Add to this his significant threat through receiving in the box and shooting, and you get a very well-rounded winger.
Momodou Sonko (Häcken to Gent)
Swedish starlet Momodou Sonko looked set to be leaving this winter after enjoying a breakout season in Allsvenskan, but where he would go was a big question. Some big clubs such as Liverpool were being linked with him, but he has ultimately signed for Gent.
The 18-year-old can be a very threatening left winger as he loves to cut inside from the wing using his excellent dribbling skills, before going on to pose a serious shooting threat with his right foot.
Our model believes these qualities should translate well to the Belgian league, but he has a good deal of scope to improve in most other aspects of the game. So, this seems a sensible move for his development.
Hugo Ekitike (Paris Saint-Germain to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan)
Hugo Ekitike has been loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt
The young Frenchman was quite a highly-rated talent as he impressed with Reims in Ligue 1, but his progress has gone off track a bit since joining PSG. He has not had the best of times at the Parc des Princes, but he has still continued to show excellent link-up passing and good dribbling.
These qualities should make him a good fit in what is a very fluid Eintracht Frankfurt attack, so his aim should be to get back to his best in the Bundesliga.
01/26/24
Tiago Djaló (Lille to Juventus)
Juventus have added Tiago Djaló to their defensive department.
The young defender has been out of action this season due to an ACL injury, but he had shown consistent quality in the previous two campaigns. His defensive work is decent, but his excellent ball-playing ability might prove more valuable for Juventus.
Juve do not have a great deal of squad depth on the left of defense and certainly do not have any young players who can slot in there, so this signing seems to make sense for the present as well as the future.
Mohamed Diomande (FC Nordsjælland to Rangers)
Mohamed Diomandé has joined Rangers.
The Right to Dream academy graduate has spent the entirety of his senior career at FC Nordsjælland, where he has come into his own as a central midfielder in the last couple of seasons.
The 22-year-old Côte d'Ivoire youth international has showcased exceptional ball retention and link-up passing, as well as generating great attacking output. Our model believes he should be able to add some more creativity in Rangers’ midfield.
Benjamín Rollheiser (Estudiantes to Benfica)
Benfica have dipped into the Argentine market to sign another youngster.
They have snapped up Benjamín Rollheiser on the back of his excellent season for Estudiantes, for whom he played a free number 10 role and showed exceptional link-up passing as well as very good ball retention in dangerous areas high up the pitch.
Our model believes he will have to improve a touch for his attacking output to translate well to the Primeira Liga, so the decision to let him stay in Argentina for another six months on loan seems a smart one.
Javier Hernández (LA Galaxy to Chihcarito)
14 years after leaving them for Manchester United, Javier Hernández has returned to Chivas.
The Mexican striker went on to have a prolific career in Europe, spending time at Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United and Sevilla after leaving the Red Devils. He returned to North America in 2020, when he joined LA Galaxy.
With 35 goals in his first two full MLS seasons, he certainly proved a valuable asset for the Galaxy, but his attacking output has dropped off in recent years.
Our model has flagged a concern about how well his recent work in MLS will translate to Liga MX, so it should be interesting to see whether he can rediscover some form upon returning to his boyhood club.
Elayis Tavsan and Tijani Noslin (Fortuna Sittard to Hellas Verona)
Hellas Verona have made a double signing from Fortuna Sittard.
Young attackers Elayis Tavsan and Tijani Noslin have made the move to Italy for a combined €3.5M, hoping to spark one of Serie A’s worst attacks which is currently averaging less than a goal per game. Our model does not believe their attacking output will translate too well to the league, but their shooting threat could prove very handy.
From a broader perspective, it should be interesting to see whether the duo’s adaptation to a new team is made easier by their pre-existing relationship. If they both get good game time on the pitch in familiar roles, their attacking output might translate a touch better than it would have individually.
01/21/24
Gift Orban (Gent to Lyon)
In addition to Malick Fofana a few days ago, Lyon have also brought in Gift Orban from Gent.
The Nigerian striker has made many headlines in just a year at Gent, scoring at a scary rate to bag 15 non-penalty league goals in just the second half of the 2022/23 campaign. Of course, he showed top-class shooting and receiving in the box in the process, but his link-up playing and passing was not bad either.
There is a lot of talk surrounding Orban and whether he can keep scoring at such a mind-blowing rate in France. He has outperformed his xG by quite some margin so that is unlikely, but his underlying numbers lead our model to believe that he can still be a very good player in Ligue 1.
Faris Moumbagna (Bodø/Glimt to Marseille)
Faris Moumbagna has made the move to Marseille.
The Cameroonian international is a very good player to have up top as he can be a menacing presence in and around the box thanks to his ability to get on the end of crosses and dangerous passes, as well as his shooting threat. Our model suggests his return of 15 non-penalty goals in Norway last year should translate decently in Ligue 1.
Additionally, the young striker can also be a good leader of a press as he disrupts opposition moves very well. All things considered, he could be a good partner or alternative to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Marseille.
Takahiro Akimoto (Urawa Red Diamonds to OH Leuven on loan)
Takahiro Akimoto has joined Leuven on a six-month loan from Urawa Red Diamonds, with the deal also including an option to buy.
The 25-year-old LB is fantastic on the ball down the wing as he showcases nice link-up play and a diverse passing range, offering great ball retention as well as some attacking threat by getting into the final third.
Our model thinks his defending quality is decent, but he will need to improve his defending quantity if he is to succeed in Belgium.
Sheraldo Becker (Union Berlin to Real Sociedad)
Real Sociedad have signed Sherlado Becker for a reported €3 million.
The Suriname international took the Bundesliga by storm last season as he served as a fantastic transition outlet for Union Berlin, breaking into double digits for non-penalty goals.
However, our model is skeptical about how his qualities as a striker might translate to La Liga, where he will come across deeper blocks with less space available in behind. He massively overperformed his xG too but our model does not put that down to his shooting quality, so there are a few question marks surrounding this move.
Ulisses Garcia (Young Boys to Marseille)
Ulisses Garcia has moved to Marseille.
With Renan Lodi leaving for Al Hilal (for a handy transfer fee of €23 million), OM were in the market for a left-back. They seemed set to sign Josh Doig from Hellas Verona, but the deal fell through after the Italian club received a better offer.
For a back-up choice, Garcia is not bad at all. Season upon season, he has excelled for Young Boys in a demanding left-back role. The Swiss international has produced great attacking output consistently, but his defensive quality is pretty good too.
01/16/24
Radu Drăgușin (Genoa to Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham Hotspur fought off interest from Bayern Munich to bring in Radu Drăgușin from Genoa.
The Romanian international has predominantly been used as a left center-back but has the capacity to play anywhere at the heart of defense, as he has shown this season. In each role, his defensive quality has stood out thanks to his great strength in duels.
His aerial prowess can also make him a serious set-piece threat, so Drăgușin could help add a dimension to Tottenham’s attacking threat too. It is not easy to forecast how exactly his ball-playing ability might translate from a direct team to a possession-dominant side, but his impressive link-up passing in the Serie B season is an encouraging sign.
Ian Maatsen (Chelsea to Borussia Dortmund on loan)
Borussia Dortmund are not enjoying the best of seasons in the Bundesliga this term, as both their coach’s tactical decisions and squad building seem to have been off the mark.
As a result, they have had to get busy in the January window. A big area of weakness has been the left-back position where there is no recognized depth behind Ramy Bensebaïni (who is now away at the Africa Cup of Nations), so bringing in Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen on loan seems to be a good idea.
This is a good move for the Dutchman too, as he has seen very little game time in the Premier League this season. His previous stints in the lower English leagues suggest he can perform at a good level in the Bundesliga, so he should be keen to show that with Dortmund.
Miloš Luković (IMT to Strasbourg)
Miloš Luković has been snapped up by Strasbourg for just under €5 million.
Having played an important role in their promotion last season, the teenage striker has been a regular fixture for IMT in the Serbian SuperLiga this year, already breaking into double digits in terms of league goals.
However, our model does not believe he is ready for Ligue 1 action quite yet, so the decision to let him complete the season in Serbia seems a smart one.
The 18-year-old forward has shown some impressive signs with his shooting, passing toward goal and threat in the box, so he certainly seems to have the potential to make the step up to a tougher league soon.
Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes to Chivas)
Cade Cowell has made the move south to Mexico.
The American international is a very exciting prospect at the age of just 20 years old, already standing out as an electric dribbler and a threatening shooter. He has room to improve as far as his end product and output are concerned, but the potential is undoubtedly there.
Chivas will be glad to have brought in a player of his caliber, so their job now will be creating an environment around Cowell in which the youngster can excel.
Félix Torres (Santos Laguna to Corinthians)
Félix Torres has signed for Corinthians.
The Ecuadorian center-back has been a solid presence at the heart of Santos’ defense for a number of years now, offering great strength in duels as well as high-volume defending.
Although his ball retention rating is very low, that is down to a stylistic reason as he attempts a lot of passing toward goal. On the whole, he should do well in the Brazilian league.
01/11/24
Malick Fofana (Gent to Lyon)
The most expensive move of the week was Malick Fofana’s transfer from Gent to Lyon. Les Gones were willing to part with €17 million to add the teenage talent to their ranks, so they quite clearly rate him very highly.
The Belgian youth international has enjoyed a breakout season this term on the left flank for Gent, who use their wing-backs in very advanced positions. In this role, he has produced quite good attacking output thanks to his dribbling and link-up passing, but has a good deal of room for improvement in various directions.
Having risen through the youth ranks as a winger, the defensive side of Fofana’s game is not quite developed enough if he is to continue operating as a wing-back or even deeper, so it should be interesting to see how Lyon intend to use him. Their current squad is quite deficient of left wingers, so the 18-year-old Belgian could well be deployed in that position.
Timo Werner (RB Leipzig to Tottenham Hotspur on loan)
It was quite clear that Tottenham Hotspur needed a striker before the window. We highlighted some long-term targets in our preview piece, but they have decided to go for a short-term option by signing Timo Werner on a six-month loan from RB Leipzig.
The German striker’s immediate job will be to replace the Asian Cup-bound Son Heung-min, so it is worth comparing the two. Using our comparison tool, we can look at Son’s work in 2023/24 and compare it to Werner’s last two seasons.
Based on this (admittedly small) sample, we see that Werner’s link-up passing should be up to scratch, but his shooting and especially receiving in the box will have to be at their highest level if he is to do a good job of standing in for the South Korean international.
Yann Gboho (Cercle Brugge to Toulouse)
Yann Gboho’s move to Toulouse looks to be a brilliant piece of business for the French outfit. In a year and a half in Belgium, he has consistently performed at what our model rates as an excellent level for Ligue 1, standing out with his receiving in the box and dribbling besides showing good improvement with his shooting.
Carles Martínez will want to see the 22-year-old Frenchman hit the ground running and spark some life into what is the worst attack in Ligue 1 so far this season as Toulouse find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle around the midway stage of the season.
Valon Berisha (Free Agent to LASK)
Free agent signings in January are rare in Europe, but LASK seem to have done some good business on that front.
The Austrian outfit have signed Valon Berisha on a three-and-a-half-year contract, which seems a smart decision given his consistently handy work across various leagues in the last few seasons. The Kosovar international has performed at a level that our model deems good for Austria in Germany, France and Australia in the last four seasons.
Of course, there is a lot more to consider before making a transfer than just adaptability, but Berisha seems a sure bet on that front at least.
Saša Kalajdžić (Wolverhampton Wanderers to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan)
Saša Kalajdžić has returned to the German Bundesliga on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Wolves would have been pleased with his signing when they brought him in from Stuttgart, but his time in England has been marred by a major ACL injury. He has not gotten regular game time as a result, so that is the first thing he will hope to rectify in Germany.
On the basis of his career as a whole, our model rates the tall striker’s dueling abilities very highly, but there has been little to go by to assess his level post-injury. That should be an interesting aspect to keep an eye on when he lines up for the Eagles.
01/06/24
Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge to Inter)
The best signing of the week has to be Tajon Buchanan moving to Inter for as little as €7 million reportedly.
The incredibly versatile Canadian international can play absolutely anywhere on either wing, offering great ball retention, link-up passing and dribbling threat. He is also very successful in duels and produces very handy attacking output from deeper positions.
At Club Brugge, Buchanan has proven himself as a full-back, winger and wing-back in the last two years. His new club will only be able to offer a wing-back role to him as Simone Inzaghi only fields a 3-5-2 formation. The 24-year-old should be considered a fantastic squad depth option on either side, with the potential to establish himself as a regular starter in the future.
Marcos Leonardo (Santos to Benfica)
Before the window opened, it was already known that whoever signed Marcos Leonardo would get a bargain after Santos suffered their first-ever relegation from the top-flight in Brazil.
The young striker has been a consistent goal-getter for them over the last couple of years and also impressed at the recent U20 World Cup, so Benfica should be pleased to have signed him for a reported €18 million. Our model suggests he is already at a level good enough for the Portuguese league, with his shooting, receiving in the box and dribbling qualities standing out.
Santos were never going to keep hold of their young starlet on the back of their relegation, so this seems a good move for all involved parties.
Silvan Hefti (Bologna to Montpellier)
Silvan Hefti’s move to Montpellier might not have made global headlines, but it is the exact sort of transfer that the January window might be best for.
The Swiss international is a pretty handy full-back going up and down the right flank, but his profile is a misfit for the way Thiago Motta wants his Bologna side to play. As a result, he has seen little game time this season.
Meanwhile, Montpellier will be without first-choice right-back Falaye Sacko for up to a month as he heads off to the AFCON. The Malian international has not been the best attacking wing partner to the lively Musa Al-Taamari anyway, so Hefti could even become a long-term starting option. A loan with an option to buy is the exact sort of deal the Ligue 1 side needed in such a situation, and that is what they have managed to negotiate.
Isak Hien (Hellas Verona to Atalanta)
One of the first major transfers after the window opened was Isak Hien’s move to Atalanta, and it is easy to see why they acted so quickly.
The Swede has been a bright spark in defence despite playing for a relegation-battling side in his time in Italy so far, although his qualities seemed clear to our model when he was at Djurgården too.
Having initially operated on the right of a centre-back pairing, Hien has made the central position in a back three his own in Serie A. That is the sort of system La Dea use as well, so their new signing seems a good stylistic fit as well.
Valeri Qazaishvilli (Ulsan HD to Shandong Taishan)
Over in Asia, Valeri Qazaishvilli has made the switch from Ulsan HD in South Korea to Shandong Taishan in China.
The Georgian international’s performances in the K League over the last three years were at a level which our model believes would translate well to the Chinese Super League. Besides his excellent link-up passing, Shandong should be pleased to see his good shooting abilities as they need to replace the goals of departing striker Marouane Fellaini.
01/01/24
Vitor Roque (Athletico Paranaense to Barcelona)
The biggest known move ahead of the window was Vitor Roque’s transfer to Barcelona.
The Blaugrana seem to need a proper goal-scoring striker given the lack of backup they have for the out-of-form Robert Lewandowski, so they will hope that their new Brazilian signing is just that.
On the back of his double-digit goal-scoring season in the Brasileirão in 2023, our model believes he is ready to make the step up to La Liga. Should he maintain the level of performance he showed at Athletico Paranaense, Roque will quickly become an important player for Barcelona.
Of course, that is much easier said than done. The 18-year-old striker should be given some time to become comfortable in his new surroundings as well, but on paper at least, this seems a good move for all involved.
Johnny (Internacional to Real Betis)
There was another player who also made the journey from Brazil to Spain ahead of the window’s opening – USMNT international Johnny.
He seems less of a slam dunk success but has shown encouraging signs in the last couple of editions of the Brasileirão. Besides his good defensive work including decent duel success, the 22-year-old midfielder has been handy on the ball with good link-up passing and dribbling.
This seems a smart move at the right time as Real Betis have an opening in midfield both in the short and long term. Guido Rodríguez’s fractured leg will keep him out for the foreseeable future, while the expected departure of Marc Roca at the end of the season when his loan ends means that a spot should remain open for Johnny to take.
Luis Suárez (Grêmio to Inter Miami)
Inter Miami has not slowed down on their prime Barcelona reassembly project, as they have gone and added Luis Suárez to a mix that already includes Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
There can be no doubt about the Uruguayan international’s quality, so the only question is what level he can still perform at. Our model’s assessment of his latest season in Brazil (in which he managed to play close to 3,000 minutes) looks quite good by MLS standards.
It appears Inter Miami’s attack will only be made all the more formidable by the arrival of Suárez, so the rest of the league should not be too pleased by it.
Nicolás de la Cruz (River Plate to Flamengo)
After all those moves away from Brazil, let us take a look at one going into the country.
River Plate’s Nicolás de la Cruz looks to be a brilliant signing for Flamengo. The Uruguayan international has nominally played in a defensive midfielder pairing in recent times but is the freer of the pair on the pitch, enabling him to produce great attacking output in addition to his top-class defensive quality.
At 26 years old, De La Cruz is very much at the peak of his career and should be able to continue operating at such a high level for a good few seasons, so Flamengo will expect he shows himself worthy of the reported $16 million they paid for him.
Bryan Zaragoza (Granada to Bayern Munich)
Finally, let us take a look at a deal that has been done in this window but will take effect in the summer.
Bayern Munich have moved quickly and snapped up Granada’s Bryan Zaragoza, but he will stay in Spain to see out their relegation battle in 2023/24. Our model does not believe his attacking output is quite up to scratch for the German Bundesliga yet, but he has shown some very exciting signs with his dribbling, passing toward goal and shooting.
The German champions will hope that he continues developing at a good rate in the first half of 2024 in Spain, after which they will have to re-assess his performances to decide how best to integrate him into their first team.
