Fabrizio Romano is an acclaimed journalist whose coverage of the football transfer window has been featured by leading news publishers, including The Guardian and Sky Sport.
Skrill is proud to sponsor his Here We Go podcast, where Fabrizio reveals football transfer news, rumours and deals every week.
The January transfer market was one of the calmest ever. There were few transfers for the top international clubs with the pandemic affecting a transfer window that has always been closely linked to opportunities rather than top signings.
In these difficult situations, the creativity of the clubs and the ability to find the right agreement make a massive difference.
In this article, my first for Skrill News, I reveal my top five transfers from January transfer window and explain why I think these clubs did an outstanding job.
1. Martin Odegaard to Arsenal
In first position, the deal that brought the Norwegian playmaker from Real Madrid to Arsenal. Sporting director Edu Gaspar managed to get a simple loan despite Real not wanting to free Odegaard until a few weeks earlier.
Competition from Real Sociedad was beaten, Arsenal acted with speed and Martin's impact at the Premier League team has been excellent from the start.
2. Papu Gomez to Sevilla
The historic captain and Atalanta legend has left Bergamo for a new challenge and at an incredible purchase price: €5.5 million plus some add-ons. Securing Papu Gomez for this amount is truly exceptional.
A great deal from the sporting director Monchi, it will take time to see Gomez in top form having been out of the team at Atalanta for months, but Sevilla have taken on an excellent player.
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3. Dominik Szoboszlai to RB Leipzig
This is a superb deal for the German club, because this midfielder was in high demand amongst the best teams in Europe. The release clause of €25 million was paid in "kind" to Salzburg, which has the same owners.
Szoboszlai has talent, pace and quality, and is a player who will be able to grow further with Nagelsmann.
Leipzig did well to anticipate their competition and open negotiations in December ahead of the January transfer window.
4. Ozan Kabak to Liverpool
For months, clubs have chased after this very promising central defender and received negative responses from Schalke.
Liverpool managed to get him on loan without obligation to buy, so they will decide what to do with Kabak in the summer.
The deal is an interesting one with Ozan a useful player to Jurgen Klopp in a time of emergency. Many wanted him, including AC Milan and Inter, but it was Liverpool that clasped the agreement.
5. Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan
Speaking of central defenders, Paolo Maldini managed to bring the talent that is Fikayo Tomori to Italy under excellent conditions.
Getting Tomori on loan with a €30 million buy option included is an interesting deal. Fikayo left Chelsea after a very long negotiation – he has always respected the club, but he needed more game time.
Tomori has already made an impact at Milan and could become a starter in the long run.
In June, AC Milan will decide whether to buy Tomori for €30 million or let him return to London.
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