Major Deadline Day Transfers of 2026: A Country-by-Country Breakdown

By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.

The winter transfer window slammed shut on February 2, 2026, with clubs across Europe and beyond finalizing last-minute deals to reshape their squads. While the window was quieter than the summer frenzy, several notable moves captured headlines. Total spending in the Premier League reached approximately £355 million ($450m), reflecting a cautious yet targeted approach amid strict financial regulations. Below, we break down the key transfers by country, integrating the verified financial costs and major moves from the final day of the window.

England (Premier League)

The Premier League remained the financial engine of the window, defined by a mix of record-breaking striker swaps and future-focused defensive reinforcements. Notably, Sunderland’s impressive return to the top flight has seen them remain aggressive players in the market.

• Jørgen Strand Larsen: Crystal Palace completed the biggest deal of the day, signing the Norwegian forward from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a club-record £48 million (€57.5m). The deal includes a £43 million fixed fee plus £5 million in add-ons.
• Jérémy Jacquet: Liverpool splashed a total of £60 million (€72m) on the 20-year-old French defender from Rennes. The Reds paid £55 million guaranteed with £5 million in potential extras; Jacquet will stay on loan at Rennes until July 1, 2026.
• Adam Armstrong: Wolves moved quickly to replace their outgoing striker, signing Armstrong from Southampton for £9 million (€10.8m).
• Sunderland’s Ambition: Currently sitting in the top half of the Premier League, the Black Cats continued their recruitment by securing Ecuadorian winger Nilson Angulo from Anderlecht for £17.5 million (€21m). This follows their record-breaking summer, where they spent £30 million on Habib Diarra, signaling their intent to compete at the highest level.
• Chelsea Loans: The Blues focused on trimming their squad, sending Axel Disasi to West Ham, Tyrique George to Everton, and David Datro Fofana to Strasbourg, all on loan deals.

Italy (Serie A)

Italian clubs focused on youth and tactical depth, though the window was overshadowed by a high-profile medical failure.

• The Mateta Collapse: A major deal for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta to join AC Milan—expected to be worth roughly €30 million (£25m)—failed at the final hurdle due to knee issues discovered during his medical.
• Bryan Zaragoza: AS Roma secured the Bayern Munich winger on loan for the remainder of the season to revive his form.
• AC Milan: The Rossoneri signed Chelsea youngster Yahya Idrissi for an undisclosed fee and snapped up Alphadjo Cissè from Hellas Verona for €8 million (£6.7m), immediately loaning him to Catanzaro.
• Other Moves: Hellas Verona acquired Armel Bella-Kotchap from Southampton for €5 million (£4.2m), and Como brought in Adrian Lahdo from Hammarby for €8 million (£6.7m).

Spain (La Liga)

Spain’s deadline day was headlined by Atlético Madrid’s decisive capture of Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman.

• Ademola Lookman: Atlético Madrid paid a €40 million (£33.4m) package to Atalanta for the Europa League hero. The deal consists of a €35 million fixed fee and €5 million in add-ons. Lookman signed a contract until June 2030, marking one of the most significant moves for a Nigerian player in La Liga history.
• Obed Vargas: Atlético also secured young American midfielder Obed Vargas from Seattle Sounders for a modest €3 million (£2.5m).

Germany and France (Bundesliga and Ligue 1)

Clubs in Germany and France opted for economic additions and mid-tier reinforcements.

• Germany: Wolfsburg signed Ghanaian defender Jonas Adjetey from Basel for €9.5 million (£7.9m). Augsburg picked up Nigerian forward Uchenna Ogundu from Alanyaspor for €4.5 million (£3.8m). RB Leipzig added Brighton’s Brajan Gruda on a straight loan.
• France: Paris FC landed Rudy Matondo from Auxerre for €15 million (£12.5m), while Rennes acquired Yassir Zabiri from Famalicão for €10 million (£8.4m). Marseille signed Tochukwu Nnadi from Zulte Waregem for €6 million (£5m). Allan Saint-Maximin returned to Ligue 1 with RC Lens on a free transfer from América.

Other Notable Deals (Beyond Major European Leagues)

Two major storylines emerged from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, involving some of the game’s biggest icons.

• N’Golo Kanté: The French midfielder finalized a return to Europe with Fenerbahçe. To facilitate the move, Kanté waived approximately €12 million in unpaid wages from Al-Ittihad, with the Turkish club paying a nominal €4 million (£3.3m) transfer fee.
• Karim Benzema: In a move that shook the Saudi Pro League, Benzema switched from Al-Ittihad to rivals Al-Hilal for a fee of €25 million (£20.9m).
• The Ronaldo Conflict: The Benzema move sparked internal controversy, with reports that Cristiano Ronaldo refused to play in Al-Nassr’s deadline day match as a protest against the league’s transfer balance.

This deadline day underscored a focus on targeted reinforcements and strategic loans. With the World Cup approaching, these moves—particularly Lookman’s shift to Madrid and the heavy investment from clubs like Sunderland—could prove pivotal for clubs’ successes as the season approaches its conclusion.

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