Rating every major transfer move this 2025 winter window
Written By

Teams from Europe's biggest leagues—especially the Premier League—step up every year to recruit key players during the winter transfer window, thus improving their roster and preparing for the second half run-in. This practice is largely determined by the needs of the team as well as in-season performance.
We will closely examine a few of the most significant actions taken during this transfer window in this article by scrutinising the impact on every club, analysing the past performance of the players, and projecting their potential.
Jaden Philogene to Ipswich (€23.70m)
Jaden Philogene's move from Aston Villa to Ipswich has dominated most of the winter transfer window, with the just-promoted Premier League team paying roughly £20 million to acquire the English youngster.
Ipswich has greatly helped their cause with this signing, as despite receiving little playing time and battling to break into the Villa team, Philogene remains a gifted player.
Philogene has been given a second chance to highlight the offensive abilities she/he displayed in the Championship in a top-level competition.
Philogene's adaptability and breakaway speed will help Ipswich's attacking end greatly, and his unique style of play and inventiveness will create more scoring chances for the team, particularly against more challenging opponents.
Ipswich signed Philogene to bolster their offensive capability since their “new boys” status makes them favourite candidates for Premier League relegation.
Although his performance at Villa has been unsatisfactory, moving to Ipswich could establish him as a key player.
Given the interest from other teams, Ipswich's offer of £20 million for the Puskás nominee is a bargain deal, and The Tractor Boys made a smart choice in bringing in who will provide the offensive punch the squad needs in exchange for more playing time.
Philogene's success in the Premier League is yet to be seen, but his ability and promise are undoubtedly clear-cut. Ipswich under Kieran McKenna competes fiercely; hence this purchase should surely leave an impact in the coming months.
Donyell Malen to Aston Villa (€25.00m)
Signed from Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa have substantially strengthened their attack this winter transfer window with the signing of Donyell Malen.
Quick, agile, and flexible enough to play on the flank or in the middle of the pitch, Malen will provide Aston Villa's offensive line with more possibilities.
Having spent his whole career with Borussia Dortmund and PSV, Malen boasts experience at the highest level.Z, and despite playing less this season, has witnessed no significant drop in his performance levels.
Aston Villa are currently in a critical state in their quest to qualify for Europe next season.
Although the squad wields some offensive ability, Villa will need a more varied array of attacking weapons to keep up with the rising competitiveness as the season ebbs into the second half.
Malen's addition is meant to close this disparity; his speed and escape skills will be rather helpful for the team, especially when employing counterattacking strategies. Malen should immediately be able to help the team if he integrates very well with Emery's tactical approach.
Still, the bargain carries some risk. Starting the season with some great performances at Dortmund, Malen had a challenging end to his time in Germany and remains a big gamble.
The small transfer fee cushions any loss for Aston Villa, but if the Dutchman takes too long to adjust to Premier League life, it may compromise the club's return on investment.
All things considered, Malen's signing considerably increases Aston Villa's prospects of making it into Europe. Particularly helpful when facing tough opponents is the team's offensive depth, which Malen's speed and talent help to define. Villa will also gain much from his capacity for counterattacks.
Based on club necessities and Malen's potential, we give this transfer a 4 out of 5 and look forward to possibly Villa's most electric winger since Moussa Diaby.
Philip Billing to Napoli (loan)
For Napoli, signing Phili Billing this transfer window was essential. A local from Bournemouth, Billing has been a potent midfielder for his team until this season, where his playing time has been limited.
Still, his achievements in the Premier League have been remarkable. Bringing in Billing aims to enhance and diversify Napoli's midfield, particularly considering Kvaratskhelia’s forthcoming departure.
Given his stature and technical ability, Billing is a fierce opponent in the middle of the field. Both defensively and aggressively, the Danish international is guaranteed to push his team to success.
His signing gives Napoli more options in the midfield, particularly in high-intensity games, and his flexibility offers manager Antonio Conte more freedom in developing his team's strategy.
Still, this purchase carries a few risks. In the Premier League, billing has shown reliability; nevertheless, Serie A's tempo and approach could provide new challenges. Should he find it difficult to adopt Napoli's approach immediately, he could compromise the team's balance.
However, Napoli has made little investment in the deal with a €10 million buyout clause, which reduces the penalty should they perform poorly in important games.
Billing is almost never injured and always available for selection; hence, he will be a great addition to Napoli's midfield and enable the team to grow stronger.
His technical talents and Premier League experience see us rate this deal 3.5/5. If he transitions to his top form and adjusts quickly to Serie A, then Napoli has acquired an excellent midfielder.
Emmanuel Agbadu to Wolverhampton Wanderers (€20.00m)
Considering Wolves' haphazard defensive situation, signing Emmanuel Agbadu during the winter transfer period was a shrewd acquisition. Wolves could gain from the former Reims' Ligue 1 centre back's muscular presence and aerial prowess.
As captain and defensive anchor, Agbadu has been a great addition to Reims by showing dependability on the pitch. His signing thus sharpens Wolves' overall strength and defensive stability.
Agbadu will provide Wolves with more depth at centre defence, a position they have struggled with this season, and his height and air dominance make him a major threat to aerial attempts from opponents.
Agbadu's leadership, maturity, and experience will offer defensive discipline for the club and provide a model for the younger players, as echoed by head coach Vitor Pereira.
Still, there are some hazards associated with this move. Agbadu excelled in Ligue 1, but his performance in the intense Premier League remains to be seen.
It remains to be seen if Agbadu can translate his Ligue 1 form to the Premier League, which has a different tempo and style of play. Furthermore, Agbadu's success will depend much on his adaptability and teamwork since no one player can fix the Wolves' defensive crisis.
Agbadu's acquisition will certainly improve Wolves' defence and cover the centre back post.
Considering his successes at Reims and Wolves' urgent demands, this transfer is quite advantageous. If Agbadu establishes himself in the Premier League and enhances the defensive performance, Wolves will mostly depend on him.
Gift Orban to Hoffenheim (€9m)
Hoffenheim shelled out €9 million plus an extra €3 million to secure the devices of Gift Orban this winter transfer window. With Jacob Bruun-Larsen leaving for more profitable prospects, the move seeks to improve the team's offensive capacity and versatility.
Orban's mobility, accurate shooting, and attacking instincts helped him to become well-known during his playing days in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.
However, since joining Lyon, he has only managed three goals in sixteen games, thus falling short of expectations. Orban's performances at Gent, therefore, were more key to Hoffenheim's decision than his most recent circumstances in France.
For Hoffenheim, the signing represents a risk they are ready to pay for. Orban's agility, space-creating skills, and remarkable shooting power are a perfect fit for the team. His inclusion on the roster will provide the team more offensive choices and help to fill in Larsson's void.
Whether Orban will be able to adjust to Bundesliga life is yet unknown. His capacity to bounce back from his underperformance in Lyon will directly affect the outcome of this deal: success or failure.
Although the €9 million transfer cost is reasonable value for money, given his current performance, it is still a risky investment.
If Orban can get back on track and quickly adapt to the team, this signing might be a game-changer for Hoffenheim.
Should he fall short of expectations, Orban would be left with the reputation of a gifted player who never fully realised his potential.
Considering all the factors, this offer has some appealing possibilities as well as a reasonable degree of risk.
In seeking to improve their attacking line, Hoffenheim has taken a pragmatic strategy; yet, it will take some time to find out whether Orban would flourish in the new surroundings. Based on the present situation, we grade this deal a 3 out of 5 and back him to become a revelation in the Bundesliga.
Enzo Le Fée to Sunderland (loan + €23m option to buy)
Sunderland, by all accounts, made a shrewd investment loaning French midfielder Enzo Le Fée this winter transfer window; Le Fée had previously been a star signing for Roma, who never really took off in Italy.
Before signing with Roma, he was a regular Ligue 1 player for Lorient, where his vision, passing, and ball control gained him recognition. This will help him to reassert himself and give Sunderland's midfield experience and skill.
Sunderland sees Le Fée's arrival as a technical midfielder shortage fix as well as a show of will to qualify for the Premier League.
Le Fée's creativity could provide the team with extra oomph in the latter run of the season, as they presently sit fourth in the Championship and are fighting for promotion.
Sunderland boss Le Bliss knows Le Fée well enough to enable him to reach his full potential; hence the move has more chances of success.
Talented Sunderland midfielder Jude Bellingham has drawn interest from several Premier League teams and might leave the team this summer; thus, Le Féee's inclusion provides the side with a midfield strategy that covers up Bellingham's absence.
The deal does, however, include some risk. Le Fée battled to reach his best when playing for Rome; hence, it seems doubtful that he will meet the demands of the championship quickly enough.
Sunderland has, however, selected a loan with a purchase clause of €23 million if promoted, therefore lowering the long-term risk of the contract should the team fail to get promotion.
On paper it appears like acquiring Enzo Le Fée would be a profitable deal for all parties.
Sunderland has shown its foresight with the signing, thus strengthening its lineup and raising its prospects of promotion.
Based on the financial commitment, player skill, and club needs, we rate the deal a a perfect signing. Le Fée will be Sunderland's go-to source in the upcoming games to show why they merit a Premier League spot.
Ben Godfrey to Ipswich (loan)
Highly sought after throughout the winter transfer period, Ben Godfrey has finally joined Ipswich Town on loan. Although the Englishman made a summer move to Atlanta, he racked up only one league appearance and wasn't a fit at the Italian club.
Still, he proved adaptable and defensively tough in 93 Everton Premier League appearances, and when he returns, he should play a vital part in Ipswich’s fight to remain in the Premier League.
Ipswich placed great priority on this trade since it strengthens a terrible defence that has lost a lot of vital points this season, leaving them 18th in the Premier League.
As Godfrey can play as both a centre-back and a wing-back, his adaptability gives manager Kieran McKenna more options for selection.
Regarding the scorching intensity of the Premier League, his quickness and physicality will be crucial. Apart from providing much-needed leadership, Godfrey's Premier League experience will enable the younger players to manage the pressures of relegation.
Still, there are a few risks involved in this deal. Given a setback in Atalanta, Godfrey is unlikely to bounce back to his best right away.
Ipswich should also be concerned about his injury history since defensive consistency is important. Over his career, Godfrey has missed a large chunk of games.
All taken together, the loan agreement gives Ipswich a seasoned and adaptable defender who might be vital in their struggle to avoid relegation.
This deal fulfils both the team's needs and Godfrey's potential; hence, we rate it a 3.5 out of 5. Should Godfrey quickly adjust to the team and maintain his fitness, his signing might make all the difference between Ipswich's safety and relegation.