EFL Championship news: The best deals from the January 2025 transfer window, Marcus Edwards and Enzo Le Fee included
The January transfer window has ended, but the Championship promotion fight is still well and truly on.
Burnley climbed back into the top two with a narrow 1-0 victory over Oxford United thanks to Michal Helik's own goal.
The Clarets’ newest recruit, Marcus Edwards, was an unused substitute as Scott Parker’s side closed the gap between themselves and Leeds United down to just two points.
Daniel Farke opted against bringing anyone into his squad this window - will that come back to haunt him?
Transfer News Blitz’s Deputy Content Editor Harry Whitfield has reviewed the best second-tier signings of the window as Leeds continue to lead the way - for now.
Marcus Edwards, Sporting to Burnley
Starting with the latest addition at the Lancashire club, Marcus Edwards just makes it onto the list.
European experience, 24 goals and 25 assists in 120 appearances for his last club Sporting - the former Tottenham Hotspur academy player should set the Championship on fire.
However, the right-winger has only featured 10 times this season for the Portuguese side, chipping in with just three goals.
Since leaving Spurs, Edwards impressed for another club in Portugal, Vitória de Guimarães, before making the move to Lisbon.
A dip in form as of late has led to a return to his home country on loan, and if Parker can rebuild his confidence, the 26-year-old could add some much-needed firepower at Turf Moor.
Morgan Whittaker, Plymouth Argyle to Middlesbrough
Plymouth Argyle fans look away now…
The Pilgrims secured their return back to the Championship in the 2022/23 League One campaign, as Morgan Whittaker scored nine goals and assisted seven times on loan before returning to the club in the following season permanently.
However, just 10 days after scoring the winner to knock Brentford out of the FA Cup, Whittaker failed to turn up for Plymouth’s 5-0 defeat to Burnley, according to new boss Miron Muslic.
The 24-year-old soon made the switch to Middlesbrough for a reported fee of £5milion, which could rise to £7.5million, and swiftly denied the reports made by Muslic.
His form this season hasn’t been amazing, with just three goals in 20 league games, but a fresh start at Michael Carrick’s side could be exactly what the former Derby County academy player needs.
Matt Grimes, Swansea City to Coventry City
For a reported fee of around £4million, Coventry City snatched arguably one of the best midfielders in the league from Swansea City.
Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues have been on a roll since the Chelsea legend walked through the door.
Meanwhile, Swansea are on a five-game losing streak in all competitions, including their last defeat to Coventry, with the former Swans skipper unable to face his former side due to the move not being completed in time.
The 29-year-old is a vastly experienced Championship player, with over 300 appearances in the second tier of English footballer, and a most welcome addition to Lampard’s side.
Ben Brereton Diaz, Southampton to Sheffield United
Chris Wilder has been busy adding seven players to his Sheffield United squad, with the best pick of the bunch being the returning Ben Brereton Diaz.
The Chilean was a bright spark in the Blades’ abysmal Premier League campaign last season, scoring six goals in 14 games whilst on loan with the Yorkshire club.
Failing to impress with Southampton, Brereton Diaz has returned for a second loan spell at Bramall Lane, and he has already had an impact scoring the winner in United’s 1-0 victory over Derby.
Widler has also brought in Tom Cannon from Leicester City, after his nine goals for Stoke City on loan, for £10million which could rise to £13million in add-ons.
Rob Holding, Hamza Choudhury and Harry Clarke also joined on loan as United looks to secure their return to the Premier League.
Honourable mention
There are plenty of honourable mentions in this window, including the loan signings of Louie Barry to Hull City or Kelechi Iheanacho and Samuel Iling-Junior to Boro.
However, a special mention has to go to Tony Mowbray after his very late addition of Adam Armstrong on loan from Southampton to West Bromwich Albion.
The English forward scored the winner in last season’s Championship play-off final as Southampton beat Leeds.
Mowbray also secured the arrival of forward Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur on a six-month deal.
Enzo Le Fee, AS Roma to Sunderland
The best Championship signing of the January transfer window has to be Enzo Le Fee from Serie A side Roma on loan to Sunderland.
The Black Cats are keeping tabs on the top three and their latest 3-2 derby day victory over Middlesbrough saw a man-of-the-match performance from the Frenchman.
Le Fee assisted Wison Isidor for Sunderland’s second goal with a precise through ball, before playing a big part in the winner at the Riverside.
Beating Luke Ayling with a burst of pace out wide, his low driven cross was turned in by debutant Ryan Giles, returning to the Boro, as Regis Le Bris’ marquee signing helped secure a crucial victory.
Not a bad start for the 25-year-old.
Follow all the latest January window rumours and deals with Transfer News Blitz, and follow us on BlueSky as we continue to tell it like it is when it comes to transfer talk.
