Eight Premier League clubs spent nothing in January. Why?

The January 2026 Premier League transfer window concluded with quiet activity, characterized by cautious spending from most clubs. The total outlay was £405 million, significantly more than any other league but representing a continuation of a long-standing, restrained pattern for the winter period.

Notable deals involving fees were scarce, with Jorgen Strand Larsen's £43 million move from Wolves to Crystal Palace and Sunderland's £17.5 million signing of Nilson Angulo among the few. Eight clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Newcastle United, made no fee-paying signings to strengthen their first teams. Arsenal's only business was an academy signing, while Liverpool's £55 million deal for a defender was agreed to commence in July.

This winter's spending was dwarfed by the summer window, constituting less than 13% of the season's record-breaking total expenditure of over £3.5 billion. This aligns with a historical trend where, since 2014-15, nearly 84% of the Premier League's cumulative transfer spending has occurred in summer windows.

The article highlights a widespread club mentality of reluctance towards January signings, viewing it as a time for necessity rather than opportunity. An anonymous agent quoted a club owner stating they would only do business in January "if he absolutely had to," reflecting the wariness most clubs feel about mid-season transfers, a sentiment consistently supported by the spending data.

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