11 Leagues, 11 Signings, A January Transfer Window X1

Richard David Pike's Beyond The Big Five Newsletter

Shorter in duration and spending than Summer transfer windows, January windows have often in the post-Covid return to normality era been quiet, lacking in big transfers and stories. January 2025 saw this perception blown out of the water. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia swapping Napoli for Paris St Germain, Maxence Caqueret departing Olympique Lyonnais to sign for Serie A big spenders Como, Marcus Rashford & Marco Asensio signing for ambitious Aston Villa, Santiago Gimenez becoming AC Milan’s new striker in a mega transfer from Feyenoord and finally Manchester City’s EUR 200 million plus splurge examples of a January window unlike so many others. Of course it is not just the elite leagues and clubs which have seen substantial activity this window, leagues outside the traditional “big five” plentiful interesting pieces of business. Comprising a starting eleven, here are 11 January transfers, all aged 23 years or under from 11 different leagues to watch for the remainder of the 2024/25 European football season.

Diant Ramaj (GK) - Borussia Dortmund to FC Copenhagen (Loan)

This weekend sees the return of the Danish Superliga after over a two month winter break, the resumption of play brings with it big opportunities for FC Copenhagen, the country’s most successful modern-era club. Founded in 1992 via a merger of Kjobenhavns Boldklub (KB) and Boldklubben 1903, FCK have dominated Danish football’s modern era winning 15 titles in their 33 years of existence. As the post-winter period of 2024/25 kicks in, the Parken outfit sit top of the SuperLiga on goal-difference from Midtjylland and have landed a winnable tie against Bundesliga strugglers 1 FC Heidenheim in the Conference League’s Knockout Phase Playoffs.

Looking to secure a record breaking 16th Danish title and procure a strong European run in the spring, FCK under promising young 38 year old coach Jacob Neestrup have added reinforcements to their squad. Young 19 year-old Brazilian winger Robert Vinicius Rodrigues Silva has signed permanently at Parken for EUR 2 million after impressing with increased gametime domestically just before the winter break. One signing of future sale potential secured, FCK’s second winter signing is another project player aiming to develop in Denmark, albeit on a temporary basis in the shape of goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.

Signed by Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2021 to act as first choice keeper Kevin Trapp’s backup, Ajax Amsterdam snapped up the young keeper who has Germany youth caps to his name two summers later for EUR 5 million. In an infamously chaotic 2023/24 campaign in Amsterdam, Ramaj proved the keeper amongst four on Ajax’s senior payroll who gathered the most playing time throughout the campaign with 30 appearances in all competitions. However, 2024/25 proved more challenging for Ramaj, new Godenzonen coach Francesco Farioli has firmly decided veteran Remko Pasveer is his number one keeper in all competitions. After only one appearance in all competitions in 2024/25, Ramaj was sold this winter window to Borussia Dortmund for the same EUR 5 million fee Ajax paid in summer 2023. BVB, looking to give Ramaj as much playing time as possible, unlikely in the current state at Dortmund with Gregor Kobel firmly the number one at Signal Iduna Park have loaned the young keeper to Copenhagen till the end of the season.

A short-term arrangement with high stakes best describes Ramaj’s short stint in the Danish capital. Whilst Kobel may now be firmly number one at Dortmund, coming into his prime aged 27, he may be in demand this summer, with Bayern Munich and Chelsea potentially seeking new number one custodians between the sticks. Thus an impressive loan spell at Copenhagen could put Ramaj into contention to be a new number one at BVB in an hypothetical post-Kobel era going into 2025/26. After so much time spent as a back-up, can precious playing time finally enable Ramaj to develop into a number one keeper for several years in the upcoming seasons.

Alexander Jensen (RB) - IF Brommapojkarna to Aberdeen FC (EUR 650,000)

The saying “a tale of two halves” could never be applied more accurately in footballing terms to Aberdeen FC during their 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign. The Dons sat 2nd in the Scottish Premiership standings after 11 matches and remained at that time unbeaten in the league following a 4-1 home win against Dundee FC at Pittodrie. However, that victory, tasted on 9th November 2024 has been the last time the North-East club has noted three points in the league. Just four draws in fourteen games since have dropped The Dons down to 4th place in the standings, heightening the pressure to address their slump quickly and maintain a strong position before the top six season split.

Despite the difficult run of form, Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been backed by the Aberdeen board, partly due to the strength of Aberdeen’s start, partly due to the impressive CV Thelin built up in his previous job at IF Elfborg in his native Sweden. Six seasons with the Boras-based outfit yielded two second place finishes, the second of which saw Elfsborg just miss out on a title to Malmo FF on goal difference in the 2023 Allsvenskan season. Despite missing out on glory, Thelin achieved individual recognition, picking up the 2023 Allsvenskan coach of the year award. Part of the backing received by Thelin from the Aberdeen board has come in the shape of new signings, proceeds of the big money EUR 6.5 million sale of Bojan Mivoski to Girona in the summer. Central Defender Kristers Tobers has been brought in on a permanent deal for a EUR 950,000 fee from Grasshoppers Zurich, whilst winger Jeppe Okkels, central defender Alfie Dorrington and forward Oday Dabbagh have all arrived on loan.

A second transfer which encompassed a transfer fee to note is 23 year old right fullback Alexander Jensen, signed for a fee of EUR 650,000 from Allsvenskan outfit IF Brommapojkarna. Right fullback looked a position of necessity for The Dons to fill going into the January window as previous starting incumbent Nicky Devlin turns 32 later this season. Statistics from the previous campaign pinpoint one big strength above all others to Dane Jensen’s game. According to FBRef, across 30 Allsvenskan matches in 2024 Jensen put in 234 crosses for Brommapojkarna, the most in the league and 74 more than second-ranked Max Larsson from Vasteras. The Dane is slowly making himself a regular in Aberdeen’s side after a long period of inactivity due to the Allsvenskan’s November finish date and netted his first goal for the club in a 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline Athletic.

Niko Galesic (CB) - HNK Rijeka to GNK Dinamo Zagreb (EUR 3 million)

It is often said that 4th place and not last is the worst classification for an athlete at an Olympic Games or an Athletics World Championship owing to missing out on a medal, sometimes in agonising fashion. In the new format for the UEFA club competitions introduced for 2024/25 and beyond, 25th rather than 36th probably feels just the same as finishing 4th in an Olympic Games event. Not only do you fail to make the knockouts of said club competitions but dropping down competitions for the knockout round phase has been phased out, depraving sides of a consolation prize. GNK Dinamo Zagreb may well have that above feeling, despite securing a 2-1 home victory on Matchday 8 of the league phase against AC Milan courtesy of Martin Baturina and Marko Pjaca goals, they finished 25th on 11 points, missing out on the knockout rounds on goal difference. A pill made even harder to swallow given Opta Analyst predictions pre-league phase that 11 points from 8 games would give sides a 99% chance of progression to the knockout phases.

Despite a decent performance in the Champions League in 2024/25, DZG have disappointed in their usual “bread and butter”, the Croatian HNL domestic championship. Dinamo are by far Croatia’s most successful club winning 25 HNL titles of the total 33 completed Croatian championships since Croatian independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Plavi are also onto their 3rd different manager of the campaign, Bosnian Sergej Jakirovic was fired in early September, being replaced with ex-Dinamo, Union Berlin and Trabzonspor coach Nenad Bjelica, who himself was fired just before the new year. 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro is the coach DZG now hope will turn a current 3rd place classification, five points behind fierce rivals Hadjuk Split into a 26th title come late May. The stakes are high for 51 year-old Cannavaro as well, after two short coaching spells in both Serie B and Serie A with Benevento and Udinese, Cannavaro needs this job to be successful.

Cannavaro and Dinamo have been active in the January market and their noteworthy capture of the window is 23 year-old defender Niko Galesic. The youngster’s arrival even more intriguing given he was acquired from one of Dinamo’s two title rivals in the shape of HNK Rijeka. Born in Berlin, Germany and having spent time in Hertha Berlin’s academy before moving to Croatia to sign for Rijeka, Galesic will look to use this move to put himself further in the shop window for an possible move back to the Bundesliga in the future.

Ange Ahoussou (CB) - FC Pau to Rapid Vienna (EUR 750,000)

2023/24 was the campaign when RB Salzburg’s dominance in Austrian domestic football was brought to a conclusion, Sturm Graz ending their 10 title-winning streak. A combination of well-executed squad building, player trading & the coaching work of ex-Sturm coach Christian Ilzer combined with Salzburg’s previously high standards slipping in addition to rosters not quite the levels of old broke one of European football’s great domestic dynasties. It remains to be seen whether or not Austrian football will undergo an era of variation when it comes to different winners across different seasons experienced in Italy when Juventus’ nine-in-a-row domination ended in 2020/21.

One of the sides looking to capitalise on what could be an new era for the Austrian Bundesliga is its most successful club, Rapid Vienna. Record 32-times Austrian champions, Rapid have a title drought extending back to 2007/08 and currently trail current leaders Sturm by nine points following a 3-1 home loss to Wolfsberger AC last weekend. A blot on the copybook of what has been a good campaign, coach Robert Klauss’ first complete season in charge, a fourth placed finish in the league stage of the Conference League, guaranteeing passage to the Round of Sixteen in the new year.

Rapid have made four new signings this window, veteran forward Ercan Kara arrives on loan from Samsunspor, whilst 22 year-old winger Andrija Radulovic has been loaned in from FK Vojvodina in the Serbian SuperLiga. One of the two permanent Rapid signings to turn heads this window was Ivorian midfielder Romeo Amane who arrives from Swedish outfit Hacken for a fee of EUR 1.3 million, however, his compatriot Ange Ahoussou could be another name to watch. The 21 year old central defender arrives from second tier French Ligue 2 outfit Pau FC for a EUR 750,000 fee. Ahoussou was reportedly on the radar of both CF Montreal in MLS and Bologna FC in Serie A before Rapid stole in to confirm his signature. Ligue 2 has been a successful recruitment ground for Rapid in recent times with regular central defender Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao playing every minute in league and European fixtures since arriving from FC Rodez in the summer.

Yaimar Medina (LB) - Independiente del Valle to KRC Genk (EUR 4.85 million)

2024/25 is shaping up to be a successful campaign for KRC Genk. After agonisingly missing out on European football qualification at the end of 2023/24 following a Play-Off loss to KAA Gent, Blauw-Wit under the guidance of veteran German coach Thorsten Fink currently lead the 2024/25 Pro League by six points from defending champions Club Brugge as the initial league phase begins to enter its closing stretch. Championship playoffs and proportionate points re-calculations mean Genk’s work is far from done, Club Brugge themselves are experts at coming good in the playoff round, twice pipping Union Saint Gilloise to championships in 2021/22 & 2023/24.

Like many clubs in the Belgian Pro League, strong player development, outgoing transfers for significant profit and successful re-investment from big sales are key to both keep clubs financially healthy and to potentially establishing them as major domestic players. Genk are one club who have hit the jackpot in recent seasons with some big money outgoings. Striker Paul Onuachu lit up the Pro League with Blauw-Wit over several seasons and was sold in January 2023 to Premier League outfit Southampton FC for EUR 18 million. The most recent examples have seen Moroccan attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss and young goalkeeper Mike Penders sold to Leicester City and Chelsea FC for EUR 20 million fees each, the latter being loaned back for a season by the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Another young player of promise Genk could pin their hopes on being another massive sale in future seasons is 20 year old Ecuadorian left sided player Yaimar Medina. Signed this January for EUR 4.85 million from Independiente del Valle. Ecuador are well-placed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are currently seeing an explosion of young talent into their senior national team’s ranks such as Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho, Kendry Paez, Alan Minda, Moises Caicedo and Jeremy Sarmiento. Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, when profiling Medina highlighted him as a player often in an advanced position, a threat on the counter owing to his pace & agility and as a player who has filled in all down the left side for Independiente del Valle as a left winger, left wingback & left fullback. In Genk’s 4-2-3-1 formation, one sees left full-back being a possible entry into the first team, Medina will look to push that position’s regular starter Joris Kayembe in the upcoming months.

Elan Ricardo (CM) - CD La Equidad to Besiktas JK (EUR 1.2 million)

2024/25 has proved a season of frustration for Besiktas JK supporters. Poor early season form saw them slip well behind fierce rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce in the title race. A situation which owing to over-performance by upstarts such as Samsunspor, Eyupspor and Gotzepe morphed into European competition qualification for 2025/26 being put at severe risk. Out went manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst and after a lengthy search, former Molde and Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer succeeded the Dutchman in the Besiktas Stadium dugout. The legendary Norwegian striker was unable to prevent Kara Kartallar from crashing out of European football, despite an impressive 4-1 home victory over Athletic Club in the Europa League. Focus now shifts to a domestic salvage operation and on improving domestic form to secure a top four finish.

Solskjaer’s first six games in charge have yielded only one defeat so far, a 1-0 away reverse against FC Twente in the final matchday of the league phase of the Europa League. Incomings focus in the January transfer window has centred around young talent. Outgoings focus has seen an exodus in the centre of midfield with young PSG loanee Cher Ndour seeing his season-long loan cancelled, Cameroonian Jean Onana loaned to Genoa and Libyan Moatasem Al-Musrati loaned to AS Monaco, just 6 months after joining Besiktas from Braga on a permanent transfer.

In need of immediate reinforcements following the central midfield cull, Besiktas swooped in to sign 20 year-old Colombian Elan Ricardo from CD La Equidad. Last summer, Ricardo had tentative links to English EFL Championship outfit Watford FC and Serie A newcomers Venezia reportedly showed an interest in the young midfielder in the winter before Besiktas swooped. Described as a “dynamic defensive midfielder” with “ability to contribute offensively while maintaining his defensive duties”, Besiktas supporters will hope this new strategy on younger recruitment pays off in the rebuild under Solskjaer.

Timothy Noor Ouma (CM) - IF Elfsborg to Slavia Prague (EUR 2 million)

As the 2024/25 Czech domestic season restarts after its long winter break, both a sense of familiarity and unfamiliarity will occupy minds of those of a Slavia Prague perspective. Familiarity in the shape of being top of the Czech First League by a healthy margin of 10 points as they chase a 21st domestic Czech/Czechoslovak league championship. Unfamiliarity in the shape of not being present in the latter rounds of European competition. In four of the last six seasons, Slavia have had European club knockout football to look forward to in the spring, including Europa and Conference League Quarter Finals in 2018/19, 2020/21 and 2022/23 respectively. This season, however, after being eliminated in the final round of Champions League qualifying by LOSC Lille, Slavia endured a disappointing league phase in the Europa League, finishing 30th out of 36, recording only a solitary victory on Matchday 1 against Ludogorets Razgrad.

Like several clubs across Europe this winter transfer window, the Swedish Allsvenskan has proved a popular source of new January signings for Slavia. Amongst some of the league’s highest value departures this window were left winger Bazoumana Traore who departed Hammarby to sign for 1899 Hoffenheim for EUR 10 million, striker Yousef Salech who departed IK Sirius to join Cardiff City for EUR 4 million and central defender Malcolm Jeng also departing Sirius to join Ligue 1 outfit Stade du Reims for EUR 2.5 million. Alongside 18 year old Liberian midfielder Divine Teah who arrived from Hammarby, Slavia brought in a second African midfielder from the Swedish Allsvenskan this window in 20 year-old Kenyan Timothy Noor Ouma, signed from IF Elfsborg.

Defensive statistics are what really stands out about Ouma according to data compiled in his 2024 Swedish Allsvenskan campaign. According to FBRef, he is rated in the 93% percentile for tackles made in the defensive third per 90 (1.49), the 99% percentile for interceptions per 90 (2.24) and the 98% percentile for number of players tackled + interceptions per 90 (5.04). In both the summer 2024 and January 2025 windows, clubs in France, Italy and England such as AS Saint-Etienne, Empoli FC and Sheffield United showed an interest in Ouma, however, it is Slavia Prague who have won his signature for a EUR 2 million fee. With regular European football on offer at Slavia, this is the next stage of Ouma’s pathway before a move to a higher-profile league 12 to 18 months down the line should he continue to progress and develop.

Nestory Irankunda (RW) - FC Bayern Munich to Grasshopper Zurich (Loan)

Australia’s national football team chasing a sixth straight FIFA World Cup qualification are in need of a spark. Currently locked in a tight qualification fight to make the next round of qualification, fears are growing that the Socceroos might miss their first World Cup since switching over to the Asian Football Confederation for the 2010 World Cup cycle. With the exception of 2022 after escaping the group stage unexpectedly, Australia’s recent performances at World Cup can be classified as disappointing and haven’t backed up the 2006 World Cup qualification, achieved by a squad commonly coined as “Australia’s Golden Generation”.

Even in tough times, however, green shoots of recovery can emerge. These rays of hope are beginning to emerge from the domestic A-League competition. As it approaches its 20th birthday, the league has had its ups, downs and controversies common-place amongst new upstart competitions in their teething stage. Nonetheless, young Aussie talent from the A-League seems to slowly be filtering to better quality leagues in recent times. It is a route used by EFL Championship club Portsmouth extensively in recent times with Kusini Yengi, Thomas Waddingham and Hayden Matthews all recently arriving at Fratton Park after establishing themselves as A-League regulars.

The most promising young talent in Australia currently, however, is 19 year-old Nestory Irankunda. After bursting onto the scene in a breakthrough 2023/24 campaign noting 8 goals and 6 assists in 25 A-League matches for Adelaide United, Irankunda signed for European heavyweights Bayern Munich for a fee of EUR 3 million last summer. After a first half of 2024/25 which saw combined playing time in the regionalised German 4th tier with Bayern Munich II reserves and Bayern’s Under 19s in the UEFA Youth League, Irankunda has been loaned to Swiss Super League outfit Grasshoppers Zurich for the remainder of the campaign. The 19 year old winger has already made a positive start to life in Switzerland, starting each of his five games so far for GCZ noting two assists. Gametime and development are order of the day for Irankunda, good progress in Zurich could see another loan to a higher quality league in 2025/26.

Kristian Hlynsson (CAM) - AFC Ajax to Sparta Rotterdam (Loan)

Talent factory, money generator, consistent excellence, just three characteristics that can describe the world-famous youth academy of AFC Ajax throughout the years. A source of pride for Dutch football’s most successful club, famous names to have emerged from Ajax’s academy to Under 21s, to first team and then success elsewhere are plentiful. Recent examples in the last 20 years include Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Matthijs de Ligt, Ryan Gravenberch, Jurrien Timber and current young star Jorrel Hato.

One young player at Godenzoden who looked to be progressing nicely into another academy to first team graduate was 21 year old Kristian Hlynsson. The Danish-born Icelandic attacking midfielder joined Ajax aged 16 from Breidablik academy in his native Iceland in 2020. Hlynsson’s breakthrough at Ajax came during the 2022/23 campaign where with Jong Ajax, the club’s U21 side who play in the Dutch 2nd tier, he noted 11 goals and 9 assists in 37 matches. Promoted to the first team in a much-publicised chaotic campaign in 2023/24, Hlynsson made 41 appearances in all competitions for Ajax’s first team, chalking up 7 goals and an assist in 25 Eredivisie matches.

2024/25 has not seen Hlynsson continue his upward trajectory from the year before. After starting the first few games as a first-team starter, new Ajax coach Francesco Farioli gradually dropped the Icelandic midfielder down to the substitutes, often being an unused substitute, several other of Ajax’s central and wide midfield options being preferred in the 4-3-3 formation. However, an opportunity has arisen at fellow Eredivisie outfit Sparta Rotterdam for Hlynsson. De Rood-Witte Gladiatoren had some winter window playing departures in the advanced positions such as winger Camiel Neghli, who departed for Millwall FC and attacking midfielder Arno Verschueren who left for FC Twente. A season-long loan has thus been arranged between Ajax and Sparta which should see plentiful playing time for Hlynsson. Can he impress and revive his chances of regular first-team football at Ajax once more in 2025/26?

Emmanuel Ekong (LW) - FC Empoli to Malmo FF (EUR 1 million)

Of all the leagues and teams profiled in this piece, Malmo are the only ones who operate in a Spring to Autumn calendar. New signings for such teams can be acquired in pre-season under plentiful preparation to ensure their adaptability to a tactical set-up being like clockwork from the off. In comparison to January signings made in Autumn to Spring which often have more teething issues to undergo early in their deployment owing to the frantic nature of competitive games.

Whilst Malmo are already record Swedish champions, the 2025 Allsvenskan will hold a lot of significance for Himmelsblatt. After their triumphs in 2023 and 2024, Malmo are looking to become the first club since the legendary IFK Goteborg side of the early-to-mid 1990s to win three or more consecutive Allsvenskan titles. Malmo disappointed in the league phase of the 2024/25 Europa League, finishing 31st out of 36th and failed to make the knockout round. Nonetheless, this early European exit should enable them to focus on securing an historic third straight title in the modern era.

Malmo’s off-season transfer window has not been busy so far with only two new signings, but one arrival in the shape of 22 year old winger Emmanuel Ekong fills an area of their squad the record Swedish champions were looking to strengthen. Ekong arrives from Empoli FC, the club which brought him to Italian football in 2018 aged 16 from IF Bromma’s Under 17s. Ekong’s most successful loan spell outside of Empoli came in 2023/24 with Croatian top flight with NK Istra 1961, noting 3 goals and 3 assists in 21 league matches. This loan spell enabled Ekong to get more first team football at Empoli in Serie A during the first half of 2024/25, making 15 appearances, all as a substitute. Ekong also made a brief impact in the Coppa Italia noting goals against both Fiorentina and Torino in consecutive ties. Seeking regular first team football, Ekong is now back in Swedish football and will compete with the likes of Sead Haksabanovic, Taha Ali and Stefano Holmquist Vecchia for places on Malmo’s flanks and attacking midfield roles.

Kaua Elias (ST) - Fluminense FC to Shakhtar Donetsk (EUR 17 million)

Despite only signing the first players of this nationality in the first years of the 21st century, Brazilian footballers have played such a fundamental role in the modern history of Shakhtar Donetsk FC. For many watchers of European football, the first games of new Champions League seasons were an anticipated event down the years. For several years this proved the first opportunity to catch glimpse of some of Shakhtar’s latest Brazilian prodigies, a chance to ponder if any of the new recruits would be able to make the step up from the Ukrainian Premier League to higher ranked leagues in Western Europe.

Shakhtar’s most famous moment in the 21st century came in May 2009 as they became only the second Ukrainian club to win a European club competition trophy by defeating Werder Bremen 2-1 in the 2009 UEFA Cup final. Shakhtar’s starting eleven that day comprised five Brazilian players, Ilsinho, Jadson, Luiz Adriano, Willian and Fernandinho, the latter two going on to achieve considerable success in the English Premier League with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City. Other famous Brazilian players to achieve fame at Shakhtar down the years include wingers Taison & Douglas Costa and midfielder Elano (all of whom would win Brazil caps when playing for the club) and winger Marlos who would become a naturalised Ukrainian citizen in 2017, eventually winning 27 caps for Ukraine’s national team between 2017 and 2021. Hirnyky now have high expectations for another Brazilian footballer now on their books after a winter transfer, 18 year-old striker Kaua Elias.

Elias had his breakthrough in the 2024 Brasileirao Serie A with Fluminense FC where he noted six goals and two assists in 30 games for the Rio de Janeiro outfit. A season which prompted Shakhtar to spend EUR 17 million on the young forward to spearhead their attack in the second half of 2024/25 and beyond. Elias first burst onto the scene during the 2023 South American Under 17 Championships where he netted braces for Brazil Under 17s against both Chile and Ecuador. Eventually, Elias finished as joint top scorer in the competition with five goals as Brazil Under 17s secured a 13th continental title at that age group. Total Football Analysis in 2024 highlighted Elias is also comfortable operating as a second striker owing to his touches, dribbles and ball progression outside the penalty box. In addition, other traits highlighted by the analysis were a wide variety of finishes in his locker and his ability off-the-ball to peel away from opposing defenders.