Hit or miss: Every January 2022 Premier League transfer

The 2022 January transfer window saw the Premier League return to their big-spending ways, with a massive £295 million spent across the league.

There were 70 new signings made after a quiet 2021 in the transfer market left clubs searching for answers, with Newcastle predictably the biggest spenders.

But which moves have proven to be great business, and which are already leaving their clubs full of regret?

101 have taken a look at every Premier League transfer* made in January and decided if they were a good acquisition or not.

Aston Villa

Philippe Coutinho (Loan, Barcelona): Hit

Signed on loan from FC Barcelona and has gone on to score four goals and three assists in 10 league appearances since. Only three players have scored more goals in the division during the Brazilian’s time at Villa. He has already had a major impact and could have alerted bigger clubs that he still has significant quality.

Lucas Digne (£27m, Everton): Hit

Villa were in need of a proven Premier League left-back and got one at a fairly decent price thanks to Digne’s falling out with Rafa Benitez. Has shown bursts of quality during his time at the club so far and provided greater attacking threat down the left.

Robin Olsen (Loan, Roma): Hit

Signed on loan as a backup option. Yet to be called up for his new side but as he cost them no fee and is only a fringe player it was still a decent transfer as Olsen has plenty of experience.

Calum Chambers (Free, Arsenal): Hit

Villa are believed to have signed Chambers for nothing. Given his age, the fact he is English and his versatility it is a solid pick-up for Villa with Chambers already proving a valuable squad player.

He has scored one and helped Aston Villa keep two clean sheets in five Premier League starts since his switch.

Brentford

Jonas Lossl (Loan, Midtjylland): Miss

Signed on loan from FC Midtjylland, Lossl has conceded six and kept no clean sheets in his three outings for the Bees so far. Signed as cover for the injured David Raya, he filled in but is unlikely to make the loan move permanent.

Christian Eriksen (Unattached): Hit

An excellent free pick-up by Brentford. Eriksen has plenty of Premier League experience and has already showcased his quality since his move back to the Premier League, working his way back into the Denmark team less than a year on from his shocking collapse during the Euros. Has proved his fitness, is a bargain and represents a real feel-good story.

Burnley

Wout Weghorst (£12.6m, Wolfsburg): Hit

Burnley were in desperate need of a new striker after Chris Wood left for Newcastle in January and Wout Weghorst has proven to be an adequate replacement so far, scoring one and assisting two in nine. Despite a promising start however, he will need to produce more if Burnley are to survive.

Crystal Palace

Jean-Philippe Mateta (£9.9m, Mainz): Hit

Was already at the club on loan but has now been signed permanently. Scored twice in the league and once in the FA Cup since – looking a solid option under Patrick Vieira’s guidance.

Everton

Vitalii Mykolenko (£21.15m, Dynamo Kyiv): Miss

Signed for a sizable fee but has completed 90 minutes in the Premier League just once so far. The decision to let Rafael Benitez have a say in the early stages of the window is looking more misplaced by the day.

Nathan Patterson (£12.6m, Rangers): Miss

Has made just one appearance so far, a 45-minute outing vs Boreham Wood in the FA Cup. Set Everton back over £12m and probably should have offered more given Everton’s lack of depth at right-back. He is one for the future, but all parties will be frustrated at how it has gone so far.

Anwar El Ghazi (Loan, Aston Villa): Miss

Only joined the club on loan so not a huge amount of money spent, but 11 minutes of action across all competitions so far suggest the Toffees regret the signing somewhat. It is even stranger when you consider they traded in Lucas Digne for his services, and a sign of the muddled thinking at Goodison this season.

Donny van de Beek (Loan, Manchester United): Miss

Donny van de Beek has also only joined the club on loan. And whilst he is playing on a regular basis, the Dutchman has seriously struggled for form at Goodison Park despite many of his fans suggesting all he needed to come good in England was a run of games. He looks ill-equipped for a relegation scrap.

Dele Alli (Free, Tottenham): Miss

Despite struggling for form under four different Tottenham managers, Everton opted to spend a fair whack on Dele, with his transfer fee potentially rising to £30m beyond the initial free deal.

And given his displays for Everton so far, none of which he has looked close to returning to his best in, it appears to have been a serious waste of money on Everton’s part. Frank Lampard was supposed to be the man to bring the best out of him, but even given their struggles since he took over, he appears not to trust the England international.

Liverpool

Luis Diaz (£40.5m, Porto): Hit

Luis Diaz looks to be the latest in a long line of clever acquisitions from Liverpool. The Reds generally do not spend huge sums of money on players, instead bringing in slightly less well-known options and transforming them into top stars.

Diaz is the latest example of this, the winger has already settled into the English game well and is terrorizing defences with his pace and quick feet. He has scored two in six league games to date.

Newcastle United

Kieran Trippier (£13.5m, Atletico Madrid): Hit

Trippier is currently sidelined for Newcastle, but before he picked up an injury, he was starring for the Magpies. The 31-year-old brought some much-needed leadership to Newcastle’s backline and was also helping out offensively.

In his four league games for the North East outfit before injury, he scored twice – one of which was the winning goal vs Aston Villa – and helped Newcastle keep two clean sheets and they immediately dropped off in his absence.

Chris Wood (£27m, Burnley): Miss

Wood was signed by Newcastle for a reported £27m. For such a high sum and with Newcastle in a relegation scrap, big things were expected of the hitman. However, he has so far scored just once in nine starts for Eddie Howe’s team, but has at least provided them with a focal point up front in the absence of Callum Wilson.

Bruno Guimaraes (£37.89m, Lyon): Miss

Big things were expected of the Brazilian when he joined, but it has undoubtedly taken him longer to settle than expected. He has shown glimpses of his quality and will no doubt go on to be a successful signing on Tyneside, but with just three starts to date - including in back-to-back defeats - he has taken a while to get into his stride.

Has shown glimpses of his quality - notably in the 2-1 win over Southampton when he was on target - so he could shine between now and the end of the season.

Matt Targett (Loan, Aston Villa): Hit

Targett is not the most awe-inspiring player, but Newcastle were in need of some fresh legs at left-back and he is filling that role well since his switch.

And as they only signed the 26-year-old on loan, it was a smart financial move as well.

Dan Burn (£13.5m, Brighton): Hit

A proven Premier League centre-back, Dan Burn has been one of the key reasons Newcastle’s defensive record has transformed massively since the January window. Not a flashy signing, but a reliable one and his leadership has been the bedrock of an impressive run.

Southampton

Willy Caballero (Free, Unattached): Hit

A reliable backup option with plenty of Premier League experience, Caballero is a decent pick-up for any team on a free, even at 40.

Tottenham

Dejan Kulusevski (£9m loan, Juventus): Hit

Kulusevski has been one of the best signings of the January window. For many years now Spurs have struggled to find a third player to complete a lethal attacking trident that already includes Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

In Kulusevski, though, the north Londoners have found one. The Swede has scored two and assisted four during his time in north London, with no player setting up more goals in the PL since his switch to Spurs.

Rodrigo Bentancur (£17.1m, Juventus): Hit

Bentancur has not been as imposing as Kulusevski, but the South American is already forming a decent partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and is a more consistent player than Harry Winks.

Watford

Hassane Kamara (£3.6m, Nice): Hit

A useful signing who has already become Watford’s main left-back. Only cost the Hornets £3.6m and has been integral in Roy Hodgson's side scrapping for survival.

Edo Kayembe (£4.2m, Eupen): Hit

An experienced central midfielder who was brought in for a small fee. Should also be a great option if Watford do go down.

Samuel Kalu (£4.5m, Udinese): Miss

Only played 44 minutes for Watford so far. More was expected during Watford’s fight for survival.

Wolves

Chiquinho (£3.15m, Estoril Praia): Hit

Picked up for a small transfer sum. Limited chances so far but has scored once in his 47 minutes of action. One for the future.

*We are not counting players who have been signed to play for club’s youth sides or those that went straight out on loan after joining.