FIFA released the final numbers for the January 2026 transfer window this Thursday, and the balance sheet left several records in both men's and women's soccer. However, there was a clear trend:more players moved than ever, but less money was spent than in the previous window.
At the global level, there were 5,973 international transfers, the highest figure for a transfer window, with growth of more than 3% compared to the record set in January 2025. However, total spending amounted to 1.95 billion dollars, which represents a drop of nearly 18% compared with last year, although it is still 20% above what was invested in January 2023.
In that context, Argentina once again stood out as one of the major players in the market. With 228 departures, it was the country that sold the most players in the world, surpassing leagues such as the English, Brazilian, and Spanish leagues. This figure confirms the export profile of the Liga Profesional, where most of the players who move abroad do so not only to Europe but also to other countries in the region. In that regard, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, and Brazil accounted for the largest number of destinations.
Regarding signings, LPF also ranked among the most active leagues. With 237 arrivals, Argentina was third in the world in terms of the number of signings, just behind Brazil (456) and very close to Spain (244). Nevertheless, this volume of movement did not translate into high spending, since Argentine clubs invested just over 20 million dollars, far from the most powerful markets.
The most expensive deal in domestic soccer was Aníbal Moreno's move to River for 7 million dollars, in a market marked by loans and low-cost negotiations. On average, each transfer cost around 905,000 dollars, less than half of the 1.98 million that had been paid in the same period last year.
