Africana55 Radio 
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Friday proved to be the quietest transfer deadline day for many a year with just £25m spent by Premier League clubs, the lowest total since 2010.
Around the leagues and across Europe there were still eyebrow-raising signings, so here we look at a few of the more interesting deals.
Odion Ighalo to Manchester United
It was the left-field signing arguably no-one saw coming. While it was obvious manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the market for a new striker, the likelihood was the Norwegian would have brought in a more well-known name. So the loan capture of a 30-year-old former Nigeria international plying his trade in China was a major surprise. The former Watford forward at least has an eye for goal, scoring 39 times in 99 matches for the Hornets, and 10 in 19 games for Shanghai Shenhua.
Panagiotis Retsos to Sheffield United
The 21-year-old, a South African-born Greek defender plying his trade in Germany is appreciably not someone who will have crossed the minds of Blades supporters if asked for a name to strengthen their backline. But boss Chris Wilder has often caught fans unawares with his deals, and Retsos is no exception. Wilder insists Bayer Leverkusen’s £15m capture in August 2017, who is in need of game time after injury this season, is one he has had his “eye on for quite a while”.
Created with Sketch.
Created with Sketch.
1/21 January transfer power rankings
Getty
2/21 20. Chelsea
It's been a bleak window for Frank Lampard, who repeatedly called for reinforcements and yet has seen nobody arrive. Edinson Cavani, Dries Mertens, Olivier Giroud is set to stay against his will, while Tariq Lamptey's refusal to sign a new contract has only added salt to the wound.
EPA
3/21 19. Bournemouth
The Cherries have had to be cautious, considering their financial position and the threat of relegation. Sam Surridge has been recalled from his loan spell at Swansea, while Josh King has been heavily linked with a deadline day move to Manchester United. If the forward does leave, it's hard to see Eddie Howe's goal-shy side kicking on in the second half of the season.
Getty Images
4/21 18. Everton
Richarlison isn't going anywhere. Not even for an £85m that doesn't exist. Despite Carlo Ancelotti's arrival, there's very little to report aside from Cenk Tosun departing on loan. The club still can't manage to get Oumar Niasse off the books.
Getty
5/21 17. Norwich
Daniel Farke's side have signed German journeyman Lukas Rupp from Hoffenheim as well as Ondrej Duda from Hertha Berlin. With little resources to dip into, the Canaries have, most importantly, held onto their best players, but will that be enough to secure safety?
REUTERS
6/21 16. Crystal Palace
It's a window which could still veer in either direction. Roy Hodgson has repeatedly called for new signings but has so far only seen Cenk Tosun arrive on loan. Extremely highly rated England youth international Nathan Ferguson is set to arrive today, though, as the club brace to miss out on Jarrod Bowen.
Getty Images
7/21 15. Southampton
Kyle Walker-Peters has arrived on loan from Spurs in a straight switch as Cedric Soares joins Arsenal. Aside from that, though, there's been very little activity on the south coast with the owners content after Ralph Hasenhuttl's recent resurgence.
Getty
8/21 14. Burnley
Burnley recalled Nahki Wells from his loan spell at QPR to sell the striker to Bristol City, with highly rated Josh Brownhill joining Sean Dyche's side in a clever move for the club, who've also managed to rid of Danny Drinkwater's wages.
Getty
9/21 13. Watford
The need for panic at Watford has been significantly subdued by Nigel Pearson's impressive return. Winger Igancio Pussetto has arrived for £7.2m from sister club Udinese, while prodigious Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has finally joined up with the Hornets too.
Getty Images
10/21 12. Manchester City
Tumbleweeds. As was explicitly planned, Manchester City will wait until the summer to regenerate their squad. Mission complete.
Getty
11/21 11. Leicester
A window where the sole aim was for Brendan Rodgers' side to hold onto their key players and Leicester did just that, with both Ben Chilwell and Caglar Soyuncu staying until at least the summer. They're also set to finally end their search for another centre-half, with Ryan Bennett joining from Wolves.
12/21 10. Arsenal
It was no secret that Arsenal had very little money to operate with in this window and the astute loan signings of Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares, while unspectacular, will certainly provide some much-needed reinforcement for Mikel Arteta's side.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
13/21 9. Tottenham
The Christian Eriksen saga cast a cloud over Spurs' January, however, Daniel Levy will be pleased to have secured a £17m fee from Inter Milan, while also shipping out Danny Rose on loan. The £25m arrival of Dutch international Steven Bergwijn has provided excitement, as has Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes. The search for a striker though has, so far, left Jose Mourinho criminally short of firepower up front.
Getty
14/21 8. Aston Villa
Villa acted quickly to replace Jonathan Kodija with Mbwana Samatta, while Pepe Reina's unlikely arrival from AC Milan could be a huge boost to the dressing room. Danny Drinkwater's arrival is, however, already leaving little to be desired.
Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
15/21 7. Wolves
Uncle Jorge Mendes has worked small wonders again with the arrivals of Daniel Podence and Leonardo Campana, while Patrick Cutrone has been shipped back to Italy.
Getty
16/21 6. Brighton
Aaron Mooy proved to be one of the most valuable signings of the summer and Brighton have made the 30-year-old's move permanent. Highly rated Chelsea youngster Tariq Lamptey is also set to join in a coup for Graham Potter's side.
17/21 5. Newcastle
It's been another typically frantic transfer window for Newcastle, despite speculation around the club's potential takeover. Valentino Lazaro has arrived from Inter, Nabil Bentaleb brings plenty of promise despite past discipline issues, while Danny Rose is a perfect replacement after Jetro Willems' season-ending injury.
Newcastle United via Getty Image
18/21 4. Manchester United
It took over six months, but Bruno Fernandes is finally a United player. And, despite all the furore, United will end the month with the player they always wanted. They also managed to recruit a back-up striker by capturing Odion Ighalo on loan.
Manchester United via Getty Imag
19/21 3. Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp's side continued their impressive recruitment strategy by activating RB Salzburg's Takumi Minamino's £7.25m release clause before the window had even officially opened. Now, amid all the other clubs pandemonium, they remain sitting happily 19 points clear of their closest challengers.
Action
20/21 2. West Ham
A window of typical panic could, somehow, still end impressively for West Ham. Jarrod Bowen is on his way to London for a medical, while Tomas Soucek and Darren Randolph are both valuable recruits for David Moyes's struggling side.
West Ham United FC via Getty Ima
21/21 1. Sheffield United
The Blades have broken their transfer record to bring in coveted Norwegian international Sander Berge from Genk, while Panagiotis Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic are also set to join. Chris Wilder's side have surpassed all expectations this season, and now they're being rewarded with firm investment.
Getty Images
1/21 January transfer power rankings
Getty
2/21 20. Chelsea
It's been a bleak window for Frank Lampard, who repeatedly called for reinforcements and yet has seen nobody arrive. Edinson Cavani, Dries Mertens, Olivier Giroud is set to stay against his will, while Tariq Lamptey's refusal to sign a new contract has only added salt to the wound.
EPA
3/21 19. Bournemouth
The Cherries have had to be cautious, considering their financial position and the threat of relegation. Sam Surridge has been recalled from his loan spell at Swansea, while Josh King has been heavily linked with a deadline day move to Manchester United. If the forward does leave, it's hard to see Eddie Howe's goal-shy side kicking on in the second half of the season.
Getty Images
4/21 18. Everton
Richarlison isn't going anywhere. Not even for an £85m that doesn't exist. Despite Carlo Ancelotti's arrival, there's very little to report aside from Cenk Tosun departing on loan. The club still can't manage to get Oumar Niasse off the books.
Getty
5/21 17. Norwich
Daniel Farke's side have signed German journeyman Lukas Rupp from Hoffenheim as well as Ondrej Duda from Hertha Berlin. With little resources to dip into, the Canaries have, most importantly, held onto their best players, but will that be enough to secure safety?
REUTERS
6/21 16. Crystal Palace
It's a window which could still veer in either direction. Roy Hodgson has repeatedly called for new signings but has so far only seen Cenk Tosun arrive on loan. Extremely highly rated England youth international Nathan Ferguson is set to arrive today, though, as the club brace to miss out on Jarrod Bowen.
Getty Images
7/21 15. Southampton
Kyle Walker-Peters has arrived on loan from Spurs in a straight switch as Cedric Soares joins Arsenal. Aside from that, though, there's been very little activity on the south coast with the owners content after Ralph Hasenhuttl's recent resurgence.
Getty
8/21 14. Burnley
Burnley recalled Nahki Wells from his loan spell at QPR to sell the striker to Bristol City, with highly rated Josh Brownhill joining Sean Dyche's side in a clever move for the club, who've also managed to rid of Danny Drinkwater's wages.
Getty
9/21 13. Watford
The need for panic at Watford has been significantly subdued by Nigel Pearson's impressive return. Winger Igancio Pussetto has arrived for £7.2m from sister club Udinese, while prodigious Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has finally joined up with the Hornets too.
Getty Images
10/21 12. Manchester City
Tumbleweeds. As was explicitly planned, Manchester City will wait until the summer to regenerate their squad. Mission complete.
Getty
11/21 11. Leicester
A window where the sole aim was for Brendan Rodgers' side to hold onto their key players and Leicester did just that, with both Ben Chilwell and Caglar Soyuncu staying until at least the summer. They're also set to finally end their search for another centre-half, with Ryan Bennett joining from Wolves.
12/21 10. Arsenal
It was no secret that Arsenal had very little money to operate with in this window and the astute loan signings of Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares, while unspectacular, will certainly provide some much-needed reinforcement for Mikel Arteta's side.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
13/21 9. Tottenham
The Christian Eriksen saga cast a cloud over Spurs' January, however, Daniel Levy will be pleased to have secured a £17m fee from Inter Milan, while also shipping out Danny Rose on loan. The £25m arrival of Dutch international Steven Bergwijn has provided excitement, as has Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes. The search for a striker though has, so far, left Jose Mourinho criminally short of firepower up front.
Getty
14/21 8. Aston Villa
Villa acted quickly to replace Jonathan Kodija with Mbwana Samatta, while Pepe Reina's unlikely arrival from AC Milan could be a huge boost to the dressing room. Danny Drinkwater's arrival is, however, already leaving little to be desired.
Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
15/21 7. Wolves
Uncle Jorge Mendes has worked small wonders again with the arrivals of Daniel Podence and Leonardo Campana, while Patrick Cutrone has been shipped back to Italy.
Getty
16/21 6. Brighton
Aaron Mooy proved to be one of the most valuable signings of the summer and Brighton have made the 30-year-old's move permanent. Highly rated Chelsea youngster Tariq Lamptey is also set to join in a coup for Graham Potter's side.
17/21 5. Newcastle
It's been another typically frantic transfer window for Newcastle, despite speculation around the club's potential takeover. Valentino Lazaro has arrived from Inter, Nabil Bentaleb brings plenty of promise despite past discipline issues, while Danny Rose is a perfect replacement after Jetro Willems' season-ending injury.
Newcastle United via Getty Image
18/21 4. Manchester United
It took over six months, but Bruno Fernandes is finally a United player. And, despite all the furore, United will end the month with the player they always wanted. They also managed to recruit a back-up striker by capturing Odion Ighalo on loan.
Manchester United via Getty Imag
19/21 3. Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp's side continued their impressive recruitment strategy by activating RB Salzburg's Takumi Minamino's £7.25m release clause before the window had even officially opened. Now, amid all the other clubs pandemonium, they remain sitting happily 19 points clear of their closest challengers.
Action
20/21 2. West Ham
A window of typical panic could, somehow, still end impressively for West Ham. Jarrod Bowen is on his way to London for a medical, while Tomas Soucek and Darren Randolph are both valuable recruits for David Moyes's struggling side.
West Ham United FC via Getty Ima
21/21 1. Sheffield United
The Blades have broken their transfer record to bring in coveted Norwegian international Sander Berge from Genk, while Panagiotis Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic are also set to join. Chris Wilder's side have surpassed all expectations this season, and now they're being rewarded with firm investment.
Getty Images
Borja Baston to Aston Villa
The fact Aston Villa signed another striker was obviously no surprise. Boss Dean Smith said he needed another player up front, even after spending £8.5m on Tanzania international Mbwana Samatta from Genk. He was linked with umpteen forwards, including Daniel Sturridge, Islam Slimani, Krzysztof Piatek, Olivier Giroud, and former Villan Christian Benteke, to name a few. So plucking Baston from Swansea on a free was startling, particularly as he cost the Swans £15.5m from Atletico Madrid four years ago.
Omar Bogle to ADO Den Haag
The 27-year-old striker has found himself surplus to requirements at Cardiff this season, not playing a game for the Bluebirds since late November, and without a goal since the opening day of the season in a 3-2 defeat at Wigan. Yet new Den Haag manager Alan Pardew, who joined the Dutch Eredivisie club on Christmas Eve, must see something in Bogle, whose previous three loan deals over the past two years have yielded just six goals in 39 appearances.
Harold Moukoudi to Middlesbrough
You would not expect a Cameroon international playing in Ligue 1 – and with experience of the Europa League this season – to swap life in France for a relegation battle on Teesside but that is exactly what centre-back Moukoudi has done in joining Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough. The 22-year-old has played 15 times this season, including 14 starts, since a summer switch from Le Havre, with Woodgate hailing the signing as “a real coup”.
PA