Transfer deadline day always delivers a few surprises, but the February 2026 window turned out to be one of the more consequential ones in recent Premier League history. Beyond the headline-grabbing moves, there were domino-effect deals that only became possible once other transfers cleared medicals. Here’s a cross-verified breakdown of what actually happened—and what sources say is still unclear.
Biggest deal: Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City (£62.5m) · Deadline day: February 2, 2026 · Club most active: Crystal Palace (sold Guéhi, bought Strand Larsson and Johnson)
Quick snapshot
- Manchester City signed Semenyo for £62.5m from Bournemouth (ESPN)
- Liverpool agreed £60m for Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, joining July 1, 2026 (ESPN)
- Crystal Palace bought Jorgen Strand Larsson for £48m from Wolves (BBC Sport Match of the Day)
- Whether Bryan Mbeumo has any formal approach from Manchester United beyond media speculation
- Whether Arsenal’s loan pursuit of James Wilson from Hearts actually reached a final agreement
- Full details on Chelsea’s transfer activity beyond the Disasi loan reports
- Summer 2026 transfer window will see Jacquet officially join Liverpool
- Clubs that were quiet in January may re-enter the market when the summer window opens
- Impact of high-spending clubs (City, Liverpool, Palace) will shape next season’s odds
Here are the confirmed transfer deals from the January 2026 window:
| Transfer | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Antoine Semenyo → Manchester City | £62.5 million | ESPN |
| Jeremy Jacquet → Liverpool | £60 million | ESPN |
| Jorgen Strand Larsson → Crystal Palace | £48 million | BBC Sport Match of the Day |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta → AC Milan | £30 million | BBC Sport Match of the Day |
| Oscar Bobb → Fulham | £27 million | ESPN |
| Rayan → Bournemouth | £24.7 million | ESPN |
| Lucas Paqueta → Flamengo | £35 million | ESPN |
| Brennan Johnson → Crystal Palace | £35 million | ESPN |
| Marc Guéhi → Manchester City | £20 million | ESPN |
| Tammy Abraham → Aston Villa | £18.3 million | ESPN |
What are the latest Premier League transfers?
The January 2026 window saw several major Premier League clubs flex their financial muscle. Manchester City were the most aggressive buyers, bringing in Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £62.5 million and Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace for £20 million. Those two signings alone account for £82.5 million in outgoing fees from other clubs’ balance sheets.
Liverpool made the most expensive single purchase of the window, agreeing a £60 million fee for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet (ESPN reported). The deal includes a 5.5-year contract, though the France youth international won’t link up with the club until July 1, 2026.
Manchester United
Sources show limited confirmed data on Manchester United’s transfer activity in the January window. The club appears to have been relatively quiet compared to rivals City and Liverpool. A persistent rumor linked Bryan Mbeumo with a move to Old Trafford, but no verified source confirmed any formal approach or agreed fee.
Liverpool
Beyond the Jacquet deal, Liverpool recalled Owen Beck from his loan at Derby County and James McConnell from his loan at Ajax (per ESPN). BBC Sport Match of the Day noted that Liverpool had been pursuing a centre-back target for an extended period before finally securing Jacquet.
Arsenal
Arsenal signed Evan Mooney from St Mirren for an undisclosed fee and loaned out Ethan Nwaneri to Marseille (ESPN confirmed). On deadline day, BBC Sport reported that Arsenal were working on a loan deal for teenage Hearts striker James Wilson, though it remains unclear whether that pursuit reached a final agreement.
Liverpool’s pursuit of a centre-back had been ongoing for months before the Jacquet deal closed. That kind of extended target-hunting suggests the club’s scouts had identified him as their preferred option—and that any alternative would have been a significant downgrade.
What transfers have happened in football?
Beyond the Premier League, several notable cross-border moves occurred during the winter window. The most significant outbound transfer from England was Lucas Paqueta’s move from West Ham to Flamengo for £35 million (ESPN). Tammy Abraham moved from Besiktas to Aston Villa for £18.3 million.
Worldwide deals
Transfermarkt serves as the primary aggregator for all global completed transfers, tracking moves across more than 50 leagues. The January 2026 window saw notable activity in Serie A (Mateta to AC Milan) and Ligue 1 (players moving both ways with Premier League clubs).
Recent signings
Key recent signings beyond the Premier League include Jean-Philippe Mateta’s £30 million move to AC Milan, which had a direct domino effect on Crystal Palace’s transfer activity. Aston Villa’s purchase of Abraham from Besiktas strengthened their attacking options for the second half of the season.
Which transfers were deadline day deals?
February 2, 2026 marked transfer deadline day, with BBC Sport providing live coverage as clubs rushed to complete their business (BBC Sport). Several deals were confirmed or progressed significantly in the final hours.
Premier League
The most dramatic deadline day activity involved Crystal Palace, whose £48 million purchase of Jorgen Strand Larsson from Wolves was contingent on Jean-Philippe Mateta passing his medical at AC Milan (BBC Sport Match of the Day). Mateta underwent medical tests on deadline day, and once those were completed, the Strand Larsson deal was confirmed.
Sheffield United launched a shock loan move for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on deadline day (BBC Sport reported). Chelsea defender Axel Disasi was also expected to join West Ham United on loan before the window closed.
Other leagues
Deadline day in other major European leagues saw varying levels of activity. The Italian Serie A window aligned closely with England’s, allowing cross-border deals like Mateta’s to Milan to proceed.
Who is the new signing at Liverpool?
Jeremy Jacquet is Liverpool’s major January signing, with the club agreeing a £60 million fee with Rennes for the French defender (per ESPN). The 22-year-old centre-back has signed a 5.5-year contract but will remain with Rennes until July 1, 2026.
Confirmed incomings
Beyond Jacquet, Liverpool’s confirmed incomings during the window were limited to recalling players from existing loans—Owen Beck from Derby County and James McConnell from Ajax. The club’s primary transfer business focused on the Jacquet deal.
Rumored targets
No other Liverpool transfer targets reached confirmed status during the January window. The club’s hierarchy appear to have prioritized the Jacquet pursuit over other options.
Has Mbeumo signed for Manchester United?
Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United remains an unconfirmed rumor. No verified source reported a formal approach, agreed fee, or completed medical for Mbeumo moving to Old Trafford during the January 2026 window.
Bryan Mbeumo status
Mbeumo has continued playing for his current club throughout the window with no reported transfer developments. Any links to Manchester United appear to stem from media speculation rather than club-sourced information.
Man Utd confirmed transfers
Research notes provide minimal confirmed data on Manchester United’s January 2026 transfer activity. The club appears to have been a spectator in the major deals that dominated the window.
Manchester United’s quiet window stands in sharp contrast to City and Liverpool’s spending. If the Reds and the Citizens continue at their current trajectory, the gap between the top clubs and United could widen further before next season begins.
Clarity section
Confirmed
- Manchester City signed Semenyo for £62.5m and Guéhi for £20m
- Liverpool agreed £60m for Jacquet (arriving July 2026)
- Crystal Palace bought Strand Larsson for £48m and Johnson for £35m
- Deadline day was February 2, 2026
- Mateta moved to AC Milan for £30m after passing his medical
- Fulham signed Bobb for £27m from City
Unclear
- Whether Mbeumo has any formal contact from Manchester United
- Status of Arsenal’s loan pursuit of James Wilson
- Chelsea’s complete transfer activity beyond Disasi reports
- Manchester United’s full window activity
Liverpool had been pursuing a centre-back for an extended period before securing Jeremy Jacquet.
— BBC Sport Match of the Day
The domino-effect nature of the Strand Larsson transfer—contingent on Mateta’s medical clearance at AC Milan—illustrates how interconnected modern football transfers have become (BBC Sport Match of the Day reported). Meanwhile, ESPN confirmed that Liverpool secured their main target despite a quiet window elsewhere.
The pattern across this window is clear: the clubs with the most defined transfer strategies executed flawlessly. City knew exactly which players they wanted from Bournemouth and Palace. Liverpool had their centre-back target identified months in advance. Crystal Palace turned Mateta’s exit into two major signings. Clubs without that clarity—Manchester United, in particular—risk falling further behind.
Related reading: Randal Kolo Muani Stats 2024/25: Goals, Career & Tottenham · Celtic F.C. Players – 2025/26 First Team Squad List
These PL deadline day signings like Man City’s £62.5m Semenyo and Liverpool’s £60m Jacquet echo trends from the recently closed 2024 summer window deals, marking a shift in European spending.
Frequently asked questions
What sources verify confirmed football transfers?
The most reliable sources are Tier 1 outlets like BBC Sport and official club announcements, combined with Tier 2 sports publications such as ESPN, Sky Sports, and Transfermarkt. This article cross-verifies against ESPN and BBC Sport Match of the Day for all major claims.
How often are transfer lists updated?
Transfermarkt updates continuously throughout the window, while BBC Sport and ESPN publish comprehensive roundups after the window closes. For real-time tracking, BBC Sport’s live transfer blog on deadline day is the fastest source.
What distinguishes confirmed deals from rumours?
Confirmed deals have official club announcements or verification from multiple independent sources citing specific fees, medicals, or contract details. Rumours typically surface from journalist speculation or unnamed sources without corroboration.
Which leagues have the most recent transfers?
The Premier League dominates transfer spending globally, but the winter window also sees significant activity in Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, and the Bundesliga. Mateta’s move to AC Milan shows Italian clubs remain active buyers.
When does the next transfer window open?
The summer 2026 transfer window typically opens on June 1 and closes on August 31 for Premier League clubs. Jeremy Jacquet’s delayed arrival until July 1 aligns with when he can officially register for Liverpool.
What is Transfermarkt’s role in tracking transfers?
Transfermarkt operates as the world’s largest football transfer database, tracking moves across 50+ leagues with market values and confirmed fees. Their data is frequently cited by Tier 2 publications as a verification source.
How to check live transfer news today?
BBC Sport’s transfer live blog provides real-time updates on confirmed moves and breaking news. ESPN’s transfer centre aggregates confirmed deals club by club. For the most comprehensive global view, Transfermarkt’s market overview page shows all completed deals across major leagues.
Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.