On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we’ll debate which clubs are among Europe’s elite in our Soccer Power Rankings. In our February edition, we’re grading each team’s business during the winter transfer window.
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ARS | ATA | ATH | ATM | BAR | BOU | FCB | INT | LEV | LIL | LIV | MAR | MCI | NAP | NEW | NFO | PSG | PSV | RMA | SCP
1. Liverpool ???????
Previous: 1 ⚖️
Why fix something that’s not broken? Federico Chiesa’s arrival last summer remains the only incoming deal at Liverpool this season. The Premier League leaders and best team of the Champions League’s opening phase instead focused on getting young talent minutes elsewhere. Nineteen-year-old attacker Jayden Danns could accelerate his development on loan at Regis Le Bris’ youthful and ambitious Sunderland. Grade: B
2. Napoli ??
Previous: 10 ?
Napoli lost their best player, and borrowing Philip Billing from Bournemouth and Noah Okafor from Milan doesn’t exactly inflame the senses. This is where Antonio Conte’s brilliance must come to the fore: The fans aren’t stewing over the loss of Khvicha “Kvaradona” Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain because his troops are defying the odds atop Serie A thanks to his siege mentality. Grade: D
3. Arsenal ???????
Previous: 6 ?
Arsenal’s reported £60-million approach for Ollie Watkins was rejected, and his Aston Villa teammate, Jhon Duran, departed for Saudi Arabia soon after. The Arsenal-Watkins transfer saga was over before it hardly began. Although Mikel Arteta’s side blitzed Manchester City on Sunday, the failure to sign Watkins or another striker could haunt Arsenal when opportunities to decide tighter matches fall at the feet of Kai Havertz. Grade: D
4. Inter Milan ??
Previous: 2 ?
Nobody could’ve foreseen the instant impact of Inter Milan’s lone signing. Although the Serie A title challengers had more departures than incoming players, Nicola Zalewski quickly endeared himself to fans by setting up the tying goal against AC Milan in his first game. The Nerazzurri were also busy preparing for the future. They completed a deal for a potential future stater in Croatia international Petar Sucic, who’ll join this summer from Dinamo Zagreb. Grade: B
5. Paris Saint-Germain ??
Previous: 11 ?
Bradley Barcola is making the €70-million outlay on Kvaratskhelia look like a luxury addition. Barcola appeared most at risk of losing his place in the team before the 22-year-old logged two goals and two assists over two excellent Champions League displays against Manchester City and Stuttgart. The seldom-used trio of Marco Asensio, Milan Skriniar, and Randal Kolo Muani were sent out on loan. Grade: B+
6. Bayern Munich ??
Previous: 7 ?
The fittingly named 6-foot-2 goalkeeper Jonas Urbig joins the battle to be Manuel Neuer’s successor with Sven Ulreich, Daniel Peretz, and Alexander Nubel. They’ll have to bide their time for an opportunity after Neuer extended his contract until 2026 on deadline day. Bayern youngsters Mathys Tel, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Adam Aznou, and Frans Kratzig sought more game time out on loan. Grade: C+
7. Real Madrid ??
Previous: 5 ?
Real Madrid did nothing. The obvious weakness in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad is at right-back, especially after Dani Carvajal fell to a long-term knee injury in October. However, it seems the club couldn’t strike an affordable January deal for Trent Alexander-Arnold, leaving a rotating cast covering that position until the Scouser’s anticipated move to the Spanish capital when his Liverpool contract expires in June. They didn’t add center-back depth, either. Grade: C-
8. Bayer Leverkusen ??
Previous: 8 ⚖️
Al-Nassr ending their pursuit of Victor Boniface to sign Jhon Duran instead could be a big help to Bayer Leverkusen. The Nigerian striker scored in his first match back after being restored to Xabi Alonso’s first-team squad. Elsewhere, Leverkusen have made under-the-radar signings that could prove to be very effective, with hard-working playmaker Emi Buendia and experienced defender Mario Hermoso both joining on loan. Grade: B+
9. Atletico Madrid ??
Previous: 4 ?
Atletico Madrid emptied their pockets at the checkout last summer when they bought Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher, Robin Le Normand, and Alexander Sorloth. So it’s not a great surprise that they didn’t sign anybody in January. Diego Simeone boasts a squad that can challenge for major honors over the second half of the campaign. The coach needs to rotate his players to ensure they stay fit. Grade: C-
10. Barcelona ??
Previous: 9 ?
The vibes are good at the Camp Nou despite a quiet transfer window for Barcelona. Limited financially, Barca still managed to give their fans reason for optimism by signing a trio of key players to new long-term contracts. Spanish playmakers Gavi and Pedri committed until 2030, while Juventus-linked Ronald Araujo ended speculation over his future by signing until 2031. Crucially, they also registered Dani Olmo. Grade: B
11. Lille ??
Previous: 19 ?
Lille must encourage Jonathan David to stay beyond his contract’s expiration in June. There’s no player within the French club’s budget who can guarantee as many goals as the Canadian. Lille did sign striker Chuba Akpom on loan from Ajax with an option to buy, but he’s a gamble after he failed to recreate his Middlesbrough form over 18 months in the Netherlands. Grade: C-
12. Nottingham Forest ???????
Previous: 12 ⚖️
Nottingham Forest don’t want to meddle with a winning formula. Their most notable January move was James Ward-Prowse returning to West Ham United after a surprisingly ineffective loan spell. The club’s restraint is commendable, especially when you consider its aggressive recruitment drives in previous windows. However, a few unfortunate injuries in the final months of the season could upset Nottingham Forest’s unexpected Champions League qualification bid. Grade: B-
13. Atalanta ??
Previous: 3 ?
Stefan Posch’s arrival should help relieve the pressure on Atalanta’s defense, which hasn’t kept a clean sheet in five of the last six games. But he won’t move the needle in the title race. Atalanta should’ve targeted an experienced central midfielder, but they instead signed an unproven Daniel Maldini – while terminating Nicolo Zaniolo’s loan – and were forced to shop for a defender after losing two center-backs to injury. Grade: C+
14. Bournemouth ???????
Previous: N/A ?
Bournemouth are building for the future. The signing of 19-year-old Julio Soler indicates the Cherries are planning for when Milos Kerkez, arguably the Premier League’s best left-back, potentially departs for big money in the summer. Eighteen-year-old defender Matai Akinmboni, who made his Major League Soccer debut for D.C. United at 15, also joined in a deal worth up to $2.5 million. Grade: B+
15. Manchester City ???????
Previous: 15 ⚖️
The accusations of panic buying are fair after a woeful few months, but at least Manchester City didn’t appear to take a scattergun approach in their uncharacteristic January splurge. City set to address the biggest needs in their lineup, with Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis added to the error-prone defense, Omar Marmoush giving Erling Haaland more support in attack, and, most importantly, Nico Gonzalez bulking up the flimsy midfield. Grade: B-
16. Athletic Bilbao ??
Previous: 16 ⚖️
Athletic Bilbao are never expected to make waves in the transfer market because they’re restricted to using players with ties to the Basque region. Still, 6-foot-4 striker Maroan Sannadi, who was born in the Basque capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz, joined from Alaves via a loan spell with third-tier Barakaldo for just €3 million, according to figures from Transfermarkt. Veteran midfielder Ander Herrera left the club for Boca Juniors. Grade: C
17. Newcastle United ???????
Previous: 13 ?
The Premier League’s financial rules have hamstrung Newcastle in recent transfer windows, so they prioritized sales in January. Getting at least $10 million from Atlanta United for Miguel Almiron will help the balance sheet, but there’s still a nagging feeling more could’ve been done. The likes of Matt Targett, Emil Krafth, and injured pair Jamaal Lascelles and Jamal Lewis remain on the payroll. Grade: D
18. Marseille ??
Previous: N/A ?
The January transfers probably won’t be enough to help Marseille close the gap on Paris Saint-Germain. The addition of experienced Brazilian center-back Felipe Luiz could prove insufficient for a Marseille side that’s kept one clean sheet in the last seven games. The club will have to shift its focus to qualifying for the Champions League instead based on its moves this month. Grade: C
19. PSV Eindhoven ??
Previous: N/A ?
Hirving Lozano got a guard of honor after his final game, and his overall record across two PSV spells of 44 goals and 21 assists in 93 Eredivisie appearances is impressive. But from a cold, business perspective, €12 million for the fading winger’s sale to San Diego FC was a good deal. Teenager Esmir Bajraktarevic joined from the New England Revolution for around $6 million. Grade: B-
20. Sporting CP ??
Previous: 18 ?
Viktor Gyokeres has raced to 51 goals and 13 assists in 52 Primeira Liga appearances, and he’s scored six times in seven Champions League outings this season. But Sporting CP kept the most sought-after striker on the planet, boosting their chances of winning another league title and beating Borussia Dortmund in the playoffs for the Champions League knockout rounds. That’s a huge win. Grade: A
Dropped out: Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus
On the cusp: Eintracht Frankfurt, Lazio, Galatasaray
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