As the January transfer window officially swings open, football clubs across Europe are wasting no time in reshaping their squads for the second half of the 2025/2026 season. Today, January 2, 2026, the headlines are dominated by a blockbuster Premier League transfer nearing completion, while top clubs in La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga are actively pursuing key reinforcements. Meanwhile, the V. League 1 in Vietnam is currently observing its mid-season break, with transfer activity anticipated later in the month.
Premier League: Arsenal’s Dominant Display and Manchester City’s Marquee Signing
The Premier League delivered a thrilling round of festive fixtures, with the most significant result undoubtedly being Arsenal’s commanding 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on December 30, 2025. This crucial win at the Emirates Stadium saw the Gunners solidify their position at the top of the league table, creating a four-point cushion after Manchester City’s subsequent goalless draw against Sunderland on January 1, 2026. Arsenal’s goals came from a diverse range of contributors, with Gabriel Magalhães opening the scoring, followed by strikes from Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus. Ollie Watkins managed a late consolation goal for Aston Villa. This performance underscored Arsenal’s title credentials, demonstrating both their attacking prowess and depth.
In the transfer market, the biggest story currently dominating headlines is the imminent arrival of Antoine Semenyo at Manchester City. The Bournemouth forward is reportedly “practically done” with his £65 million move to the Etihad Stadium. This high-profile transfer is set to be one of the marquee signings of the winter window, with Semenyo having reportedly chosen City over other top Premier League rivals such as Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham. Pep Guardiola’s side is keen to bolster its attacking options, and the Ghanaian international’s pace and goal-scoring ability are expected to provide a significant boost as they continue their pursuit of silverware. Elsewhere, Crystal Palace is set to acquire Tottenham’s Europa League winner Brennan Johnson in a £35 million deal. Aston Villa has also made an early move, securing Gremio prospect Alysson for €12 million, while Liverpool confirmed the permanent departure of youngster James Norris to Irish side Shelbourne.
La Liga: Real Madrid’s Resilience and Barcelona’s Cancelo Pursuit
In Spain, the last round of La Liga fixtures before the New Year saw some key results. One of the most significant matches was Real Madrid’s solid 2-0 victory over Sevilla on December 20, 2025. While specific goalscorers were not detailed in the available reports, this win was crucial for Real Madrid in maintaining pressure at the top of the table. Other notable results from that round included Girona’s 0-3 loss to Atletico Madrid and Elche’s emphatic 4-0 triumph over Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona, who currently sit atop the La Liga standings, secured a 2-0 win against Villarreal on December 21, 2025.
The transfer rumor mill in La Liga is buzzing with speculation surrounding Joao Cancelo. The Portuguese full-back, currently with Al-Hilal, is reportedly “desperate to leave” the Saudi club this winter and return to Europe. Both Barcelona and Inter Milan are said to be actively pursuing his signature, with Barcelona’s interest particularly strong despite their ongoing financial challenges. Cancelo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has reportedly offered his services to several Serie A clubs as well, indicating a competitive race for the 31-year-old’s services. Confirmed deals in La Liga include Endrick’s loan move from Real Madrid to Lyon, Rodrigo De Paul’s transfer from Atletico Madrid to Inter Miami for €15 million, and Javi Galán’s €0.5 million switch from Atletico Madrid to Osasuna. Atletico Madrid is also reportedly in the market for a central defender, while Barcelona is seeking a centre-back reinforcement.
Serie A: Juventus’ Victory and Milan’s Fullkrug Acquisition
The Italian Serie A concluded its latest round of matches just before the New Year. A significant result saw Juventus secure a 2-0 victory over Pisa on December 27, 2025. While the goalscorers were not explicitly mentioned in the available reports, this win was important for the Bianconeri as they aim to consolidate their position in the upper echelons of the league. Other key results included Udinese’s 1-1 draw with Lazio and a full slate of matches on December 28, 2025, featuring AC Milan against Hellas Verona and Atalanta hosting Internazionale.
On the transfer front, AC Milan has reportedly secured the services of German striker Niclas Fullkrug. The deal is said to be all but complete, with Fullkrug already training with the team at Milanello, awaiting his official unveiling once the Serie A transfer window formally opened today, January 2, 2026. This acquisition is expected to provide a significant boost to Milan’s attacking options. Inter Milan is also active, reportedly identifying Joao Cancelo as a top priority target, alongside Sassuolo starlet Tarik Muharemovic, as they look to strengthen their squad. Meanwhile, Roma is eyeing Chelsea defender Axel Disasi and Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin to bolster their backline. Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is also a subject of intense speculation, with Serie A heavyweights Juventus and champions Napoli reportedly keen on the 20-year-old.
Bundesliga: Leverkusen’s Statement Win and Stuttgart’s New Talent
The Bundesliga’s last round of fixtures before its traditional winter break concluded in mid-December. One of the most significant outcomes was Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s impressive 3-1 away victory against RB Leipzig on December 20, 2025. This result served as a strong statement from Leverkusen, who continue to challenge at the top of the German league. Elsewhere, reigning champions Bayern Munich secured a dominant 4-0 win over Heidenheim on December 21, 2025, showcasing their formidable strength. Borussia Dortmund also registered a 2-0 home win against Borussia Mönchengladbach on December 19, 2025.
With the Bundesliga winter transfer window opening on January 1, 2026, clubs are beginning to finalize deals. VfB Stuttgart is particularly active, with the “all-but-confirmed” signing of Ecuadorian talent Jeremy Arévalo. Stuttgart is also reportedly heating up its pursuit of Nottingham Forest’s Arnaud Kaliumendo. Other confirmed movements include Bayer Leverkusen acquiring Issa Traoré from Djoliba AC, and Eintracht Frankfurt bringing in Love Arrhov from Brommapojkarna and Keita Kosugi from Djurgårdens. A notable rumor involves Manchester City loanee Claudio Echeverri, who is reportedly open to a January exit from Bayer Leverkusen.
V. League 1: Mid-Season Break and Upcoming Transfer Window
The V. League 1 in Vietnam is currently observing a scheduled mid-season break, which commenced on November 24, 2025, and will run until January 27, 2026. This hiatus accommodates the participation of the Vietnam U-23 national team in the 2025 SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Consequently, there were no V. League 1 matches played in the last round of December 2025 or early January 2026. The most recent significant match result available is from December 18, 2025, where Cong An Ha Noi secured a 3-1 victory over Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Specific goalscorers for this match were not detailed in the available reports.
Due to the ongoing break, there are currently no transfer rumors or confirmed deals dominating the headlines for V. League 1 clubs. The official transfer window for the V. League 1 is set to open later in January, from January 24, 2026, to March 17, 2026. However, some future confirmed internal league transfers for late January have been reported, such as Tien Anh Truong moving from The Cong – Viettel FC to Ninh Binh FC on a free transfer, Pierre Lamothe joining SHB Da Nang FC from Ha Noi FC on loan, and Duc Viet Nguyen moving from Ninh Binh FC to Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC on loan. These movements are indicative of the activity expected once the window fully opens, but they are not yet headline-grabbing deals.
