With the winter transfer window done with, it is time to recap on the movements made in January by looking at the top five transfers completed over the 31 days.

Lucas Silva

From Cruzeiro to Real Madrid

Price: £11.5 million

Real Madrid has snapped up another up-and-coming talent out of Brazil (surprise, surprise) and his name is Lucas Silva. The former Cruzeiro midfielder ended months of speculation surrounding a possible transfer by finally putting pen to paper on a five-year deal with Carlo Ancelotti’s side, turning down English club Arsenal in the process. The purchase cost Real Madrid a reported £11.5 million, a relatively miniature sum by their standards. Silva, regarded by club president Florentino Perez as currently Brazil’s best defensive midfielder, will take the number 16 shirt and slots straight into the first team squad.

Gabriel Paulista

From Villarreal to Arsenal

Price: £11.2 million

This January transfer window should be regarded as Arsenal’s best for the last few years. First they recruited a defensive midfielder (albeit a 17-year-old in Krystian Bielik) and signed Brazilian centre back Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal for a reported £11.2 million — this means Arsene Wenger has delivered two defensive signings. Who would have thought he had it in him? The combative Paulista brings added cover in the central defensive position, which only had two senior players in that area at the beginning of the season, as well as the ability to play anywhere across the back four.

Andre Schuerrle

From Chelsea to Wolfsburg

Price: £24 million

Many, including yours truly, will be sad to see World Cup-winning forward Andre Schuerrle leave the Premier League. Second placed German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg paid Chelsea a club record fee of £24 million to acquire Schuerrle’s services, just a year after Wolfsburg paid a similar fee to purchase Bundesliga star Kevin De Bruyne. After entering double figures with goals in his first season, the 24-year-old found it more difficult to break into the Chelsea team this season and decided that a change of scenery was best. With that said, added firepower is just what Wolfsburg needs in a potentially tense title race.

Juan Cuadrado

From Fiorentina to Chelsea

Price: £23.3 million

It was only a matter of time before Juan Cuadrado left Fiorentina, after being linked with Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City since his World Cup exploits. The Colombia wide man eventually signed a four-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea, reportedly costing the Blues £23.3 million with Mohamed Salah going the other way on loan. The former Udinese player will compete directly with Willian for the right midfield spot as both men share similar traits while Cuadrado can also operate as a right wing-back. Another speedy and creative winger entering his prime, Jose Mourinho will have plenty to think about.

Wilfried Bony

From Swansea City to Manchester City

Price: £25 million

The most prolific scorer in the English Premier League for the calendar year of 2014, the signing of Wilfried Bony by Manchester City could be the most important and impactful signing of the 2014/2015 season. Manchester City paid Swansea City an initial £25 million for the Ivorian, who complements a strike force already consisting Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko. City manager Manuel Pellegrini describes Bony as “difficult to mark” because of his strength and should no doubt link up effectively with the speedy Sergio Aguero. Could this be the formula that brings City a second straight title?