Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - Every Premier League club's transfer window rated and slated

The January 2026 transfer window has closed with Premier League clubs spending nearly £400million, and we've assessed how London clubs compare to the rest of the league

The winter transfer window has drawn to a close for Premier League clubs looking to bring in fresh faces. Opportunities remain for players to secure moves to certain leagues - especially Major League Soccer in the United States, where the window has weeks left to run - but the bulk of the transfer activity has now concluded.

Deadline day proved to be a relatively subdued affair, although that's been a common theme for most clubs across recent seasons. Premier League clubs rubber-stamped a handful of transactions on Monday evening, with Liverpool also getting their ducks in a row for Jeremy Jacquet's summer arrival.

In total, Premier League sides have splashed out just under £400million throughout January, not including that Jacquet deal. Upwards of £70million went towards deadline day deals, while there were also several eleventh-hour loan arrangements inked.

The top six have broadly been quieter than the rest of the bunch, with Arsenal banking on their existing squad being sufficient to end their title drought. All but six of the division's 20 clubs have secured at least one permanent acquisition, though, and we've graded every team's window.

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Arsenal - C

This was never anticipated to be a particularly active window for the Gunners, though they'll be mindful of how injuries depleted the squad around this period last year. This time around, the only noteworthy pieces of business involved Oleksandr Zinchenko departing for Ajax following an underwhelming loan spell at Nottingham Forest and Ethan Nwaneri securing a temporary move to Marseille.

A last-minute move for Sandro Tonali never seemed particularly likely, while Mikel Merino's foot injury is unfortunate but the Gunners will be hoping they have sufficient cover without pursuing an instant recall for Nwaneri. Essentially, it's business as usual for the Gunners, for whom last summer's window was the important one.

Aston Villa - B

The winter window was a pivotal month for Villa last season, with Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio almost single-handedly pulling Unai Emery's side into the top four and helping deliver an impressive European run. This winter has seen a flurry of activity as well, in both directions.

It remains to be seen whether Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz can make as significant an impact as they did during their previous stints at Villa Park, while new winger Alysson may be more of a prospect for the future than an immediate game-changer. Donyell Malen's goals will need to be replaced, while Leon Bailey's return offsets Evann Guessand's exit and Harvey Elliott will finish the season at Villa Park unless he rethinks his MLS stance.

Bournemouth - B-

Even before the transfer window opened, the main concern for Bournemouth seemed to be how they would replace Antoine Semenyo rather than whether they could retain the Ghanaian. Indeed, there may be a level of hope that the replacement plan was put in place before the forward completed his Manchester City move.

Rayan, Alex Toth and on-loan keeper Christos Mandas are set to fulfil different functions in the months ahead, with the former arriving amid considerable expectation. Replacing Semenyo's output will prove challenging, though Andoni Iraola's squad have recovered from high-profile sales in the past.

Brentford - C

Young forward Kaye Furo represents the type of acquisition Brentford supporters have grown familiar with in recent times. A promising talent whom the club will hope eventually prompts questions about how they managed to pip bigger names to his services.

Beyond that, there's little movement from Keith Andrews' outfit. A handful of departures, whether temporary or permanent, suggest there's no desperation to dip into the market during a month when major activity can prove tricky.

Brighton - B-

Those disappointed by Matt O'Riley's loan departure late in the summer can take heart from the Danish international's return. He's not the only returnee, with Pascal Gross coming back to the south coast in a permanent signing from Borussia Dortmund.

The Amex Stadium has also witnessed various loan activity, including Igor returning from an uneventful spell at West Ham. Now the challenge comes with reviving form on the pitch after just one victory from the last 11 in the league under Fabian Hurzeler.

Burnley - C

Even prior to Monday's loss at Sunderland, Burnley's prospects of staying up appeared bleak. A limited transfer window, with little to show for it beyond James Ward-Prowse's loan arrival, seems unlikely to alter that trajectory.

The relative lack of transfer activity suggests an acceptance that survival might be unachievable. Still, despite being without a win since October, recent draws against Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs could provide a morale boost.

Chelsea - C+

Chelsea's managerial switch occurred during the winter window, which might seem like a distant memory to some, and that's the most notable change for the Blues. There have been some impressive results under new boss Liam Rosenior, although transfer activity has been minimal.

Facundo Buonanotte is now plying his trade at Leeds after an unremarkable loan stint at Stamford Bridge was cut short. More notably, Chelsea have succeeded in offloading players unlikely to see first-team action, with Raheem Sterling mutually agreeing to terminate his contract and both Tyrique George and Axel Disasi departing on loan on deadline day.

Crystal Palace - C+

Palace's transfer window could have swung either way - it ended up better than it might have been but there are still plenty of negatives. The downsides are clear, with Marc Guehi moving to Manchester City and manager Oliver Glasner confirming his departure at season's end.

There was a point when Glasner seemed set to leave sooner, while Jean-Philippe Mateta remains a Palace player, albeit one likely to be sidelined for a lengthy spell due to injury after a late move to Serie A collapsed. The Eagles will pin their hopes on Welsh star Brennan Johnson, loanee Evann Guessand and new record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen to fill the goal-scoring void left by Mateta while the Frenchman is out of action.

Everton - C

Everton's most significant setback in January came away from the transfer market. Jack Grealish's encouraging early-season form has been disrupted by injury, and the England player's campaign may now be finished.

On-loan arrival Tyrique George should provide options for David Moyes, whilst Harrison Armstrong has returned to Hill Dickinson Stadium following an impressive spell at Preston. Apart from that, there's little else to mention beyond a failed late attempt to offload Dwight McNeil.

Fulham - C+

One of Fulham's major challenges was navigating the Africa Cup of Nations period without their Nigerian stars while maintaining their league position. They not only achieved that objective but have also completed one of the month's most significant acquisitions.

The Cottagers will be hoping Oscar Bobb's capture can help others up their game - not least record signing Kevin, who netted a superb strike at Old Trafford on Sunday. There was also a departure for out-of-favour Adama Traore, alongside the positive news of Harry Wilson remaining - until the summer at least.

Leeds - C

The majority of Leeds' crucial transfer activity took place in the summer window, positioning them well for survival. They haven't guaranteed their status yet, however, and whether a quiet January proves costly remains to be seen.

It's been a story of two loan moves, with Facundo Buonanotte arriving and Jack Harrison spending the remainder of the season with Fiorentina. This indicates that stability is the priority at Elland Road.

Liverpool - B-

It's tricky to pass judgment on a signing that won't be finalised until the summer, but Jeremy Jacquet appears to be a significant acquisition for Liverpool, irrespective of what transpires with Ibrahima Konate's future. It's also notable that the Reds beat Premier League rivals to land the youngster

Aside from the promising French defender, it's been a window dominated by loan deals for the Reds. A fresh start for Lewis Koumas has already paid dividends, with the Welsh forward netting the decisive goal on his Hull debut against Blackburn, while it will be interesting to see what's in store for James McConnell after he returned from a loan stint at Ajax.

Man City - A

City will undoubtedly view themselves as the Premier League side with the most productive transfer window. They've brought in two players with established Premier League pedigree without having to splash the cash to the extent they did 12 months ago.

Pep Guardiola's team have managed a net spend of less than £60m this window, offsetting their expenditure by offloading Oscar Bobb after securing the signatures of both Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi. While it may not guarantee them the title, it certainly bolsters their chances.

Man Utd - C+

By now, it's clear that Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn't one for splashing out in the January window, though he sanctioned a move for Patrick Dorgu this time last year. There has still been a significant change at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim's managerial stint ending and Michael Carrick taking interim charge.

While it's hard not to focus on Carrick's three wins from three, it's also important to acknowledge the lack of activity in a squad that lacks balance and is set to lose the in-form Casemiro come summer. They have no cup distractions, though, so they may be fine with a trimmed-down squad for now.

Newcastle - C-

Newcastle sit a significant seven points adrift of the top four, with no certainty that fifth place will secure Champions League football this time around. Given this, some supporters may question why more wasn't done in terms of new signings - especially with the Magpies still in Europe.

Summer signing Yoane Wissa is only just beginning to make his mark after injury ensured his debut didn't come until December. Another silver lining is Sandro Tonali staying put, although it's difficult to ascertain whether there was ever a genuine possibility of the Italian joining Arsenal despite some late rumours.

Nottingham Forest - B-

Forest sit six points clear of West Ham in the battle for survival and will hope they can keep that margin healthy. New striker Lorenzo Lucca can contribute goals if all goes to plan, while Luca Netz and Stefan Ortega were late additions to the squad.

They also seem to have cut their losses on Arnaud Kalimuendo, with Eintracht Frankfurt having an option to buy the forward outright if he performs well during his loan spell. Sean Dyche's side appear to be in a solid enough position to avoid relegation, so now it's all about getting the wins they need between now and May.

Sunderland - C

Similar to newly-promoted Leeds, Sunderland splashed out in the summer and have been enjoying the benefits - even more so than their rivals, in fact. Regis Le Bris' team didn't feel the need to make many moves in January (and early February), but fewer doesn't mean none.

Nilson Angulo has been the marquee arrival, joining from Anderlecht, while a handful of squad members have departed either permanently or on loan after struggling for minutes. One such departure was left until deadline day, with summer recruit Simon Adingra joining Monaco on loan, having slipped down the pecking order.

Tottenham - B

Both Thomas Frank and Spurs recognised the necessity for January investment. The debate centres on whether the right areas were addressed, given the worry over creativity during league performances.

Pipping Arsenal to highly-rated Scottish prospect James Wilson will undoubtedly satisfy many supporters, whilst Conor Gallagher has immediately established himself in the starting XI, and a respectable fee was secured for Brennan Johnson. However, returning players from the treatment room could prove more valuable than any new additions, with Dominic Solanke flourishing at the weekend and genuine optimism that Dejan Kulusevski can rediscover his best form upon his eventual return from a significant knee problem.

West Ham - B

West Ham's new additions Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe are yet to find the net in the league after arriving for a combined £47m, but their presence has at least coincided with improved results. Nuno's charges secured consecutive victories for only the second occasion all campaign in January, though considerable work remains if survival is to be achieved.

Defensive business saw one arrival and one departure, with Axel Disasi coming in from Chelsea - albeit with a lack of match sharpness - and Igor heading back to Brighton. The major concern revolves around how significantly they'll feel the absence of Lucas Paqueta, though receiving £36.5million from the Brazilian league represents solid business.

Wolves - B

Assessing a transfer window for a team like Wolves, who are virtually certain to be relegated well before the year's end, is no easy task. Yet, Rob Edwards' squad appears to have positioned themselves fairly well for both the present and upcoming season.

Securing £48m for Jorgen Strand Larsen seems a wise decision given his meagre return of just one league goal this season. Adam Armstrong joins with a proven track record in the Championship - possibly signed in anticipation of spearheading a promotion push next season if a miraculous escape doesn't materialise by May, while England international Angel Gomes will look to prove himself in the Premier League more than half a decade after leaving Manchester United.