The January transfer window is a notoriously tricky month to do business – but Manchester United have found some bargains over the years.
Clubs that do business in the transfer window are often taking a calculated gamble, that a bold move will have an instant impact on the season.
The window is typically harder to strike deals than the summer, with clubs reluctant to lose their top stars mid-season, often demanding even higher fees. For players it can be risky too, having to instantly adjust during the campaign.
United have often taken the loan approach, using January to plug gaps in the squad with the likes of Odion Ighalo or Wout Weghorst.
What United fans really want to see are permanent deals. Will one be forthcoming in 2026?
We have taken a look at the last 13 players United signed on a permanent basis in the January transfer windows, a project that takes us all the way back to the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images2025: Patrick Dorgu
After skimping on previous transfer windows or striking loan deals in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Manchester United changed approach in 2025.
With new coach Ruben Amorim struggling, there was no way that United could ignore the problematic left flank for a second successive year, amid Luke Shaw’s injury battles.
United made the move for Patrick Dorgu, paying £25 million to sign him from Serie A side Lecce.
Dorgu went straight into the team and filled a gap, but struggled to really make an impression until almost 12 months later.
Now playing further forward as a winger, with Luke Shaw fit again, Dorgu is thriving and looks like a bargain.
2025: Ayden Heaven
Manchester United really took the handbrake off in 2025, striking a deal to sign Arsenal talent Ayden Heaven.
United had intended to do this deal the following summer, before Jason Wilcox pushed to get the agreement done early.
It was an inspired move with Heaven costing a small fee of around £1 million.
Heaven made his first team debut two months later, and he has gone on to show his first team credentials, even winning the Player of the Month Award for December 2025.
2023: Gabriele Biancheri
An academy move for Gabriele Biancheri was the only permanent move made in January 2023, with Erik ten Hag focused on loan moves.
Biancheri, 16, joined from Cardiff City, and he has since made a big impression for United’s under-18s and under-21 teams.
The Wales under-21 international striker is expected to make a loan move in January 2026, as he continues to test himself and prepare for a first team future.
2021: Amad
Does Amad count as a January signing? It’s debatable, but we have decided to include him on this list.
Manchester United struck a deal with Atalanta to sign Amad on the delayed October 2020 summer deadline, however, the transfer could not be completed.
Amad continued to play for Atalanta, before his transfer was formalised in January 2021.
After loans at Rangers and Sunderland, Amad has gone on to establish himself as a key player for Manchester United.
Signed for an initial £19 million that could later reach £38 million, even if all add-ons were activated, it looks like a total bargain.
Amad is now worth ___________
Fill in the blank!
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2020: Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United agreed one of the greatest mid-season deals of all-time with a January 2020 move for Bruno Fernandes.
United had considered signing Fernandes in the previous summer, but hesitated and did not make a move. After watching the team struggle to create chances, a decision was finally made to push for Fernandes.
The Portugal international cost £47 million plus add-ons, a fee that has proven to be a bargain over time.
Fernandes has scored more than 100 goals for the club and was recently voted by fans into United’s best XI of 2020-2025.
The current club captain continues to be a key player, and this is one January deal United will be very happy they made.
Who do YOU think is Man Utd’s best January signing ever? Would you change the order?
Who else should be on this list?
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2020: Nathan Bishop
Bruno Fernandes was not the only player Manchester United signed in January 2020, with Nathan Bishop arriving on the same day.
Manchester United signed goalkeeper Bishop from Southend for a small undisclosed fee. He signed a two-and-a-half year contract.
The England youth international worked as a back-up behind David de Gea and Sergio Romero.
He left without playing a competitive game for United, being sold to Sunderland in 2023. Bishop is currently playing for AFC Wimbledon.
Photo by Ben Early/Getty Images2018: Alexis Sanchez
Manchester United aimed to sign ‘the next Robin van Persie’ by striking a deal with Arsenal to bring in Alexis Sanchez.
Sanchez signed in a rare swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a move that ended up being a disappointment for both players.
At the time Sanchez was one of the Premier League’s best players, but United signed the Chilean on a downward trajectory.
Sanchez was an awkward fit in Jose Mourinho’s system, and he failed to deliver on his staggeringly high wages.
He was eventually offloaded to Inter Milan. After spells at Marseille and Udinese, he is now playing for Sevilla at the age of 37.
Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images2015: Victor Valdes
Louis van Gaal pushed a deal in 2015 to sign former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes as a free agent.
Valdes had let his contract at Barcelona run down before suffering a torn ACL. This provided an opportunity for United to snap him up once fit.
The Spaniard signed a 18-month contract at United, where he was a back-up to David de Gea.
Valdes played twice, once as a late substitute at home to Arsenal after De Gea picked up a minor injury in a 1-1 draw, before keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw away against Hull.
United signed Sergio Romero the following summer, before loaning Valdes to Standard Liege in January 2016 before he was released.
2015: Sadiq El Fitouri
Don’t be too harsh on yourself if you can’t recall Sadiq El Fitouri, a player who was signed as a prospect.
El Fitouri had been in the Manchester City youth ranks before he was released and signed for Salford City.
After a trial at Manchester United in January 2015 he signed an 18-month contract, but he failed to progress and was released at the end of his deal.
El Fitouri was last seen playing non-league football in 2022.
2014: Juan Mata
Juan Mata was a make-good present from Ed Woodward to David Moyes after a disastrous summer 2013.
Mata arrived in a helicopter, with David Moyes delighted to sign one of the Premier League’s most creative players.
There were still questions. Where exactly would Mata fit alongside Wayne Rooney, and why did Jose Mourinho sell him?
We never really learned the answer to either of those questions, with Mourinho left to try and figure out the first conundrum when he was appointed by United in 2016.
Mata had a long career at United, playing 285 games for the club. Unfortunately this spanned a difficult era, and it was a largely unhappy spell.
Despite his clear and obvious talent, and some special moments, there was a sense that Mata might have been able to achieve more.
What was Ed Woodward’s biggest blunder in charge at Manchester United?
Ed Woodward was a TOTAL DISASTER!
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2013: Wilfried Zaha
Wilfried Zaha ended up being Sir Alex Ferguson’s goodbye present, when Manchester United struck a deal with Crystal Palace in January 2013.
Zaha was loaned back to Palace for the rest of the season as part of the deal, and by time he arrived at United the next summer, Ferguson had retired and was replaced by David Moyes.
Arriving at a tough time in United’s history, Zaha struggled under Moyes and was later sent on loan to Cardiff, before being sold.
Zaha went on to enjoy a successful career, and he can only wonder what might have been if Ferguson stayed at least one more year.
2012: Frederic Veseli
Manchester United signed Frederic Veseli on deadline day in 2012 after he was allowed to leave Manchester City.
The promising young defender went into United’s under-21 side, but ended up being released one year later.
Veseli has gone on to have an interesting career, playing in the Football League for Ipswich and Port Vale, before various spells in Italy and Turkey.
He has more than 40 international caps for Albania, representing his country on the big stage at Euro 2016.
Now 33, Veseli is currently playing for Serie B side Sudtirol.
Have you seen Paul Scholes score a better goal than this wonder-strike vs Aston Villa?
What a hit! 🔥
The technique on this volley is absolutely insane!
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2012: Paul Scholes
This is how far back we are going, with Paul Scholes among the most ‘recent’ permanent January signings.
He is one of two club legends on the list along with Bruno Fernandes, if you want to be that generous towards the Portuguese star.
Scholes was an academy star who had a magnificent career at United before announcing his retirement in 2011.
In January 2012, Scholes realised he retired too early, and United decided to put a contract in front of him so he could make a sensational return.
Scholes’ comeback came hours before a FA Cup third round clash away at City, and he came off the bench to help lead a memorable 3-2 win.
He played the rest of that season and then 2012/13 before retiring as a champion, along with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
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