There was the move that happened and the one that didn't on Deadline Day of the 2023 winter transfer window.
Chelsea pulled off the Enzo Fernandez transfer at the last minute, paying a record transfer fee for a Premier League club (€121 million) to land the Benfica and Argentina World Cup winner.
But the Blues, who were busy sending Jorginho to Arsenal in another notable move, also played a big part in the Hakim Ziyech loan that fell through with PSG. The Parisian club was keen on bringing in attacking help as they seek to finally win the Champions League, but Chelsea's paperwork didn't come through on time.
The top leagues in Europe all saw their winter window close at the end of the day on Tuesday, January 31, but other countries have extended deadlines, such as Portugal (Feb. 2), Turkey (Feb. 8), and Serbia (Feb. 10).
In the countries where the transfer window has closed, teams are now limited to signing players who are free agents and out of contract. If a move involves a player under contract with another club, it will have to wait until the open of the summer 2023 window.
Here is some of the drama we witnessed on Transfer Deadline Day 2023:
- Chelsea seal deal for Benfica's World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernandez
- Man United landed Marcel Sabitzer to cover for the injury to Christian Eriksen
- Barcelona see deal for World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat fall through
- PSG miss out on Hakim Ziyech and they'll have to wait for Milan Skriniar
- Chelsea offloaded Jorginho to Arsenal, who needed midfield cover
- Sporting CP star right-back Pedro Porro finally joined Spurs
- Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo didn't get their move
- Nottingham Forest land deadline day trio and Southampton make double swoop
MORE: Updated list of most expensive deals of January 2023 winter window
Transfer Deadline Day tracker
Here is the list of notable deals that are official and have been formally announced by the clubs involved (most recent transfers at the top):
MORE: A look back at the summer 2022 and winter 2022 deadline day
Transfer Deadline Day news
Here are the latest updates on the biggest transfer stories of the moment:
Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea a done deal (Wed, 00:35 GMT / 19:35 ET)
The Blues are getting the World Cup winner in the end with the paperwork completed in time. The final fee is a Premier League record (€121 million), but it will be paid in six installments over the life of the 8.5-year deal per David Ornstein of The Athletic.
🚨 PL has received all documents for British record €121m transfer of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica to Chelsea. 1st tranche €34m then 5 more. 8.5yr deal. Flies to London on Weds. #SLBenfica begged 22yo to stay but finally agreed exit ~2130 during game #CFC https://t.co/JHRo8nkh2r
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) February 1, 2023
Red Devils announce Sabitzer loan (Wed, 00:10 GMT/ 19:10 ET)
Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has joined Manchester United on loan for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old Austrian international will provide cover in the Red Devils' midfield after the injury suffered by Christian Eriksen.
Welcome to United, Marcel Sabitzer 👊#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 1, 2023
Nottingham Forest complete double swoop (Tues, 23:18 GMT/ 18:18 ET)
The promoted Premier League side have attempted to boost their chances of Premier League survival with the double signing of Keylor Navas and Jonjo Shelvey.
Navas, who will provide cover for the injured Dean Henderson, joins on loan until the end of the season, while Shelvey has signed from Newcastle to June 2025 for an undisclosed fee.
Keylor Navas is a Red. 😍
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) January 31, 2023
Your new home awaits. 🏡
Tottenham confirm Pedro Porro acquisition (Tue, 22:55 GMT/ 17:55 ET)
Sporting right-back Pedro Porro has joined Tottenham on loan with the Premier League having an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
The fee for Spurs to make the deal for permanent for the Spanish international is believed to be around £40m.
✍️ We are pleased to announce the signing of Pedro Porro from Sporting CP.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 31, 2023
Welcome to Spurs, @Pedroporro29_! 💙
Gunners loan out Lokonga to Palace (Tue, 22:45 GMT/17:45 ET)
With Jorginho joining Arsenal, the Gunners have decided to let midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga move to Crystal Palace on loan for the rest of the season.
The Belgian international will be hoping to get Premier League minutes after falling behind Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in the Arsenal midfield pecking order.
Another one joins 😍#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 31, 2023
PSG closing in on Chelsea's Ziyech (Tue, 22:05 GMT / 17:05 ET)
This would be one of the biggest moves of Deadline Day should Champions League hopefuls PSG acquire the Chelsea winger. As previously reported by Santi Aouna and confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, the clubs are putting the final touches on a loan until the end of the season without an option for a full transfer.
Pedro Porro to join Spurs (Tue, 20:17 GMT / 15:17 ET)
One day after The Athletic's David Ornstein reported that the €45m transfer for the right-back fell through, Fabrizio Romano on Monday reported an agreement in place and on Tuesday confirmed the deal. Spurs are about to get a new right-back who can run all day.
Jorginho joins Arsenal (Tue, 20:03 GMT / 15:03 ET)
Italian international Jorginho has completed a £10m move (plus £2m in add-ons) from Chelsea to rivals Arsenal. The Blues have opted to transfer the veteran midfielder, due to his contract expiring in June, with Mikel Arteta seizing his chance and signing him to an 18-month deal at the Emirates Stadium, with the option for a further year.
Welcome to The Arsenal, Jorginho 👊 pic.twitter.com/jHXqAUBKKQ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 31, 2023
What helps explain this move is that Mohamed Elneny could miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
We're all with you, Mo ❤️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 31, 2023
Barcelona will not sign Sofyan Amrabat (Tue, 18:59 GMT / 13:59 ET)
With news emerging that Barcelona were not in position to lock in a mandatory purchase option, the loan deal for World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat has fallen through, according to Fabrizio Romano. It's no surprise Fiorentina were not willing to accept a loan without a purchase for one of their most important players.
Man United eye Sabitzer as Eriksen replacement (Tue, 18:08 GMT / 13:08 ET)
Man United's deadline day plans were forced into a late change following the news of Christian Eriksen's injury setback. Erik ten Hag confirmed the Danish international will be missing until May due to an ankle problem.
Reports from Daily Telegraph writer Jason Burt claimed United reached out to Atletico Madrid over a potential loan offer for Yannick Carrasco, but instead the Red Devils have settled on Marcel Sabitzer of Bayern Munich, according to Manchester Evening News writer Samuel Luckhurst. The Austrian midfielder will arrive on loan to the end of the season. The deal was later confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.
Marcel Sabitzer to Manchester United, here we go! Full agreement reached on loan deal, no buy option — confirmed 🚨🔴 #MUFC #DeadlineDay
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2023
Deal set to be signed with Bayern in the final hours as personal terms agreed too.
Boarding completed - ✈️ Manchester @TurkishAirlines pic.twitter.com/tLpe5XNVtJ
Bayern confirm Joao Cancelo loan (Tue, 11:21 GMT / 06:21 ET)
One of the biggest surprise moves of the window has finally been made official with Joao Cancelo moving from Manchester City to Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season. Reports suggest Bayern will have a €70m option to make the move permanent in the summer.
MORE: Why Joao Cancelo is leaving Man City for Bayern Munich
Tottenham offload players (Tue, 10:00 GMT / 05:00 ET)
One of those transfers that comes out of the blue and suggests we might be heading for a pretty wacky deadline day. Tottenham's long pursuit of Sporting CP wing-back Pedro Porro is close to coming to fruition, which means even Antonio Conte has to concede he has too many wing-backs. As a result, Matt Doherty is on his way to Atletico Madrid. Swapping Conte for Diego Simeone, you have to hope the Republic of Ireland international is a fan of brooding intensity.
Tottenham have already offloaded one right back, with Djed Spence joining Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais on loan until the end of the season.
Djed Spence has joined Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 31, 2023
Smash it, Djed 👊
Transfer Deadline Day reports, rumours
This table contains a roundup of players we're tracking based on reports and rumors of a potential transfer (in alphabetical order):
| Player | Position | Club | Linked To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selim Amallah | Att. mid | Standard Liege (BEL) | Hertha Berlin (GER) Real Valladolid (SPA) |
| Sofyan Amrabat | Centre-mid | Fiorentina (ITA) | Barcelona (SPA) |
| Julian Araujo | Right-back | LA Galaxy (USA) | Barcelona (SPA) |
| Yasin Ayari | Centre-mid | AIK Stockholm (SWE) | Brighton (ENG) |
| Sardar Azmoun | Forward | B. Leverkusen (GER) | Marseille (FRA) |
| Tiemoue Bakayoko | Centre-mid | AC Milan (ITA) | Lyon (FRA) Adana Demirspor (TUR) |
| Hector Bellerin | Right-back | Barcelona (SPA) | Sporting CP (POR) |
| Sander Berge | Right-back | Sheffield Utd (ENG) | Fulham (ENG) Newcastle (ENG) |
| Beto | Forward | Udinese (ITA) | Everton (ENG) |
| Brenner | Forward | FC Cincinnati (USA) | Nott'm Forest (ENG) Udinese (ITA) |
| Moises Caicedo | Centre-mid | Brighton (ENG) | Arsenal (ENG) |
| Rayan Cherki | Att. mid | Lyon (FRA) | PSG (FRA) |
| Pathe Ciss | Centre-mid | Rayo Vallecano (ESP) | Lyon (FRA) |
| Jonathan Clauss | Right-back | Marseille (FRA) | Atletico Madrid (SPA) |
| Ivan Fresneda | Right-back | Real Valladolid (SPA) | Arsenal (ENG) |
| Conor Gallagher | Centre-mid | Chelsea (ENG) | Newcastle (ENG) Crystal Palace (ENG) Everton (ENG) |
| Daichi Kamada | Att. mid | E. Frankfurt (GER) | Man United (ENG) |
| Dodi Lukebakio | Forward | Hertha Berlin (GER) | Lyon (FRA) |
| Sasa Lukic | Midfielder | Torino (ITA) | Fulham (ENG) |
| Malcom | Winger | Zenit (RUS) | PSG (FRA) |
| Nicolas Raskin | Centre-mid | Standard Liege (BEL) | Rangers (SCO) |
| Saul | Centre-mid | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | Valencia (SPA) |
| Milan Skriniar | Centre-back | Inter Milan (ITA) | PSG (FRA) |
| Cedric Soares | Right-back | Arsenal (ENG) | Fulham (ENG) |
| Caglar Soyuncu | Centre-back | Leicester City (ENG) | Atl. Madrid (SPA) |
| Dusan Tadic | Winger | Ajax (NED) | AS Roma (ITA) |
| Florian Thauvin | Winger | Free agent | Udinese (ITA) |
| Hamed Junior Traore | Att. Mid | Sassuolo (ITA) | Bournemouth (ENG) |
| Nicolo Zaniolo | Forward | AS Roma (ITA) | Bournemouth (ENG) AC Milan (ITA) Leeds Utd (ENG) |
| Hakim Ziyech | Forward | Chelsea (ENG) | PSG (FRA) |