While the winter transfer window is notorious for being difficult to do business in, that did not stop some clubs from splashing the cash this month.
That includes Aston Villa and Manchester City, who invested the most during a hectic month that saw over a quarter of a billion spent in the Premier League alone.
City have been desperate to get themselves out of their rut and have spent over £170million on Nico Gonzalez from Porto for £50m, Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt for £63m, Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens for £35m and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras for £30m.
Villa, meanwhile, completed a surprise loan swoop for Marco Asensio, perhaps as a replacement for Emi Buendia, who left for Bayer Leverkusen on loan.
Joao Felix, Marco Asensio and Mathys Tel all completed moves on deadline day
PA
Unai Emery was also desperate to get a deal over the line for Axel Disasi on loan from Chelsea, with all parties working feverishly right up until the deadline to get a deal done.
After the departure of Diego Carlos and an injury to Matty Cash, Villa had been hellbent on bringing in a defender.
But the big news from Villa Park had already arrived – a day before – when Marcus Rashford signed on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season.
Villa are covering most of his £315,000-a-week wages and also have an option to buy worth around £40m, GB News understands.
However, the Birmingham-based side did not stop there and earlier business in January saw them snap up Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund.
Andres Garcia also signed from Leganes to provide cover at the back to make it a busy month for Emery.
Elsewhere, one of the ongoing sagas of the month finally concluded when Tottenham managed to convince Mathys Tel to sign for the club.
The Frenchman initially rejected a move to north London but Bayern Munich insisted that he leave while other Premier League clubs floated their interest.
United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all linked but no concrete bid arrived while Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou personally called up Tel.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Axel Disasi was a late, late signing for Villa
PA
The Australian coach managed to change the striker’s mind, who has joined Spurs on loan until the end of the season with a purchase option.
Chelsea might have been slow in bringing in players in but there were certainly outgoings, as well as Disasi.
Joao Felix, who only joined last summer from Atletico Madrid on a seven-year contract, joined AC Milan on loan – though there is no buy option and he will return in the summer.
Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell also left on loan, moving to Borussia Dortmund and Crystal Palace respectively.
There was one arrival, though, a £12m signing of Mathis Amougo from Saint-Etienne, though it remains to be seen whether the 19-year-old will be joining the first-team.
Nico Gonzalez signing for City for £50m was the biggest deal of the day
Reuters
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Bournemouth snapped up hot talent Eli Junior Kroupi from Lorient, though he will remain with the Ligue 2 outfit for the rest of the season.
Former Arsenal defender Rob Holding has left behind his Crystal Palace hell to join Sheffield United on loan while Fulham look set to complete a move for Willian after his contract at Olympiakos was scrapped.
Lloyd Kelly left Newcastle on loan for Juventus, while in the Championship there were deals at Middlesbrough, who signed former Leicester star Kelechi Iheanacho from Sevilla on loan until the end of the season while QPR snapped up Chelsea youngster Harvey Vale.