Barcelona's five most expensive January transfers of all time

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 19 Jan 2025 15:04 CST
• 4 min read

Barcelona have endured financial difficulties over the past few years, but that hasn’t stopped them spending huge sums of money on new signings.

In fact, the Blaugrana are responsible for the biggest deal in the history of the January transfer window.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through Barcelona’s five most expensive January transfers of all time.

READ MORE: Barcelona's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

5. Martin Braithwaite - €18m (from Leganes, 2020)

Martin Braithwaite’s move to Barcelona in 2020 caused shockwaves for a number of reasons, not least because the deal took place after the January transfer window had closed.

A season-ending injury to Ousmane Dembele meant Barcelona were given permission to sign a replacement and they opted to bring Braithwaite to the club in February, despite forceful protests from Leganes.

Braithwaite scored 10 goals in 58 games for Barcelona, before leaving to join Espanyol in 2022, while Leganes were relegated after losing their best attacker.

READ MORE: Barcelona’s 10 biggest sales of all time

4. Geovanni - €20m (from Cruzeiro, 2002)

Geovanni joined Barcelona from boyhood club Cruzeiro for a fee of €20m back in 2002, but the move didn’t work out.

He made just 43 appearances for the Blaugrana and after a six-month loan spell at Benfica, he joined the Portuguese giants on a free transfer in 2003.

Geovanni eventually became a cult hero at Hull City, before retiring in 2013.

3. Vitor Roque - €30m (from Athletico Paranaense, 2024)

Vitor Roque was hyped as one of the world’s most exciting young prospects during his time at Athletico Paranaense, and Barcelona won the race for his signature in January 2024.

The Brazilian forward registered 28 goals in 81 senior matches for his boyhood club, however he found the step up to European football a fairly big one.

After failing to break into the starting XI at Barcelona, he joined Real Betis on loan in August 2024.

2. Ferran Torres - €55m (from Man City, 2022)

Ferran Torres spent just 18 months at Manchester City, but he was unable to nail down a consistent starting spot and he opted to leave the club following news of Barcelona’s interest in January 2022.

The Blaugrana spent €55m to bring Torres back to La Liga, with Xavi determined to sign the Spaniard in a bid to bolster his attacking roster at Camp Nou.

Torres left Man City with 16 goals in 43 games for the club, but he is yet to become a key player for Barcelona.

1. Philippe Coutinho - €135m (from Liverpool, 2018)

Philippe Coutinho is the most expensive January signing in football history and he therefore comfortably tops this list.

Barcelona failed to sign the Brazilian during the 2017 summer transfer window, but they agreed to pay €135m to sign the Liverpool superstar in January after months of negotiations.

However, Coutinho never justified his ludicrous transfer fee and after 106 appearances for the club, and a loan spell at Bayern Munich, he was sold to Aston Villa for €20m in 2022.

Barcelona’s five most expensive January transfers of all time