5 most expensive deadline day signings in January

#3 Jackson Martinez - Atletico Madrid to Guangzhou Evergrande for €42 million

AFC Champions League - Sydney FC v Guangzhou Evergrande FC

The story of Jackson Martinez’s career is filled with highs and lows. The serial scorer at Porto couldn’t score regularly in La Liga. The Atletico Madrid man moved on to China just six months after moving from Porto.

The 35-year-old scored just two goals in ten outings for the Colchoneros, and his stay in China wasn’t any better. Martinez only managed to slot the ball into the net on two occasions in 15 appearances for Guangzhou Evergrande.

Martinez suffered a string of injuries, mainly pertaining to his ankle. In October 2016, he was ruled out for two years. At the time of his move, Martinez was the most expensive Asian transfer of all time. However, in March 2018, he had to be released because of his unavailability.

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#2 Fernando Torres - Liverpool to Chelsea for €58.5 million

Chelsea v Manchester City - Premier League

As mentioned earlier, Fernando Torres was signed before the deadline of the 2011 January transfer window. The Spanish striker had been imposing during his time at Liverpool. He consistently scored goals for club and country during the late 2000s.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea splashed the cash in a bid to challenge on all fronts. Being a clinical striker in a world-class club seemed like a match made in heaven. However, the reality was different for El Nino. The then-British record transfer scored a meager 45 goals in 172 games for Chelsea.

In contrast, he struck 81 times in 142 Liverpool appearances. The drop in quality couldn’t have been more drastic. Injuries and poor form led to Torres’ downward spiral. Although he won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup at Stamford Bridge, his career took a hit for the worse.

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#1 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal for €63.75 million

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Arsenal a few years ago was the costliest ever January deadline day transfer. The Gabonese international has been a decent signing for the North London club, having scored 92 goals in 163 games over the last four years.

Aubameyang has had two impressive seasons at the Emirates Stadium, in 2018-19 and 2019-20. During the 2018-19 season, the French-born forward was the joint-highest top scorer in the Premier League with 22 goals under his belt.

The 32-year-old is having his worst season at the club so far and could leave in the summer window. Despite the bittersweet ending for Aubameyang, he was the most successful transfer among the five players who made the list.