Manchester United are always adamant that their preference is to do business in the summer, but that hasn’t stopped the club from buying players in January if they feel the price is right.
It remains to be seen if Manchester United will make any signings in the January transfer window.
United have been linked with players in multiple positions, especially midfield, though most of those targets will not be available in January.
It emerged on Tuesday night that Antoine Semenyo has decided to sign for Man City after becoming one of United’s prime targets in the winter transfer window due to the Bournemouth star’s £65 million release clause.
What is your message to Antoine Semenyo?
Has he made a mistake choosing to join City? What should United do now?
That will come as a blow to United, but Ineos will need to look elsewhere to see if other potential targets will be on the move in January.
Without further ado, we are going to look back at how much money United have spent on players in the previous three January transfer windows.
January signings made by Man Utd between 2023-2025
Just weeks after Ruben Amorim arrived from Sporting CP in November 2024, United made two signings in the January transfer window.
Ayden Heaven (£1.5 million) joined as an inexperienced centre-back from Arsenal, while Patrick Dorgu (£24 million) was signed to give Amorim a wing-back option on the left flank.
That means United spent a total of £25.5 million on transfers last January.
In January 2024, United made no signings and waited until the summer to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s squad.
United signed three players on loan in January 2023, including Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich. The Red Devils also signed Wout Weghorst on loan with £2.6 million paid to Burnley, as well as Jack Butland on a straight loan from Crystal Palace.
That means United have spent a total of £28.1 million in the previous three January transfer windows.
United would have spent double that – and more – to sign Semenyo, but he’s seemingly opted to join Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, despite uncertainty surrounding the manager.
Who should now be Man Utd’s top transfer target in January 2026?
After missing out on Antoine Semenyo, who should Manchester United be targeting?
Who was Man Utd’s most expensive January transfer?
The most expensive January transfer in United’s history is Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes, 31, joined from Sporting CP in January 2020 for an initial fee of £47 million.
In 2014, United paid £37.1 million to sign Juan Mata from Chelsea before spending £35 million to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal four years later.
Man Utd’s top five most expensive January transfers
- Patrick Dorgu
- Bruno Fernandes
- Juan Mata
- Alexis Sanchez
- Amad Diallo
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