Only one of the top six made a notable signing – and they spent £172m – in a frustrating window for several managers. Mikel Arteta’s hopes of strengthening his squad never materialised, no doubt to his frustration and that of every Arsenal supporter, despite the surprise bid for Ollie Watkins and interest in Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel. The feelgood factor generated by the famous thrashing of Manchester City will not last long if a lack of attacking options means they cannot sustain their challenge in the Premier League. Arteta, who would not allow Kieran Tierney or Jorginho to leave with their contracts expiring in the summer, will be hoping that some winter sunshine in Dubai next week can give his players extra spark when they return. Ed Aarons.

Key ins: None. Key outs: None. Marcus Rashford was the headline-grabbing signing for Unai Emery and it will be down to the Spaniard to get the forward back to his best after a lengthy Manchester United malaise. Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio and Andrés García were smart moves to add depth to a squad that has struggled with the hectic schedule brought by playing in the expanded Champions League. The accountant will be extremely happy, too, after Jaden Philogene, Diego Carlos and Jhon Durán were sold for a combined total of almost £100m. Will Unwin.

Key ins: Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund, £20m), Andrés García (Levante, £6m), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United, loan), Marco Asensio (PSG, loan), Axel Disasi (Chelsea, loan). Key outs: Jhon Durán (Al-Nassr, £64.4m), Jaden Philogene (Ipswich, £20m), Diego Carlos (Fenerbahce, £9.3m), Kosta Nedeljkovic (RB Leipzig, loan). With Evanilson and Enes Unal sidelined for the long term with a broken foot and ACL injury respectively, Andoni Iraola was hoping to bring in cover up front. Bournemouth failed to do so, with Iraola ending up with two promising defenders instead. Julio Soler and Matai Akinmboni may be untested in the Premier League but the club’s recent record in the transfer market suggests they are ones to watch. The club did make a late addition in attack in the form of Eli Junior Kroupi, but the 18-year-old forward will remain with Lorient on loan until the end of the season and, as such, the loss of two influential forwards could hamper their push up the table. Will Magee.

Key ins: Julio Soler (Lanús, £6.6m), Matai Akinmboni (DC United, £2.1m), Eli Junior Kroupi (Lorient, £10m). Key outs: Mark Travers (Middlesbrough, loan), Max Aarons (Valencia, loan), Philip Billing (Napoli, loan). A relatively low-key window after Nottingham Forest’s bid for Yoane Wissa briefly unsettled things. Forest and a host of other clubs are likely to be back in the summer for the DR Congo forward and for Bryan Mbeumo but the Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, will be relieved to not have to answer questions about either for a few months. The promising Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode was the only major incoming, replacing the long-serving Mads Roerslev. EA.

Key ins: Michael Kayode (Fiorentina, loan). Key outs: Mads Roerslev (Wolfsburg, loan). The club finished 2024 as the fifth-biggest spenders in Europe, the arrival of Diego Gómez and Stefanos Tzimas continuing a trend. There has been a sizeable turnover of players in this window as Fabian Hürzeler attempts to refine his squad, with Evan Ferguson allowed to join West Ham on loan and a number of younger players moving on. Tzimas – a highly rated 19-year-old coveted by several other clubs – will be loaned back to Nürnberg until the end of the season. EA.

Key ins: Stefanos Tzimas (Nürnberg, £20.8m), Diego Gómez (Inter Miami, £12m), Eiran Cashin (Derby, £9m). Key outs: Jakub Moder (Feyenoord, £1.6m), Julio Enciso (Ipswich, loan), Evan Ferguson (West Ham, loan). A strange window. Trevoh Chalobah solved a defensive crisis by returning from his loan at Crystal Palace, even though he was pushed out last summer. There were calls for more depth in midfield and attack. The upshot was a deal for a 19-year-old midfielder, Mathis Amougou. Meanwhile there were constant stories about fringe players going, even though some had only just arrived. Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka left on loan and the squad looks light with the departure of João Félix – signed for £45m from Atlético Madrid and handed a seven-year deal last summer – for Milan for the rest of the season due to be confirmed. Jacob Steinberg.

Key ins: Trevoh Chalobah (Crystal Palace, loan ended). Key outs: Cesare Casadei (Torino, £12.5m), Renato Veiga (Juventus, loan), Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund, loan), Ben Chilwell (Crystal Palace, loan). Oliver Glasner will be pleased to have finally brought in another exciting prospect from the Championship in the form of Romain Esse and Chilwell adds much-needed cover at left wing-back after being exiled by Chelsea. After the west London club recalled Chalobah and Chadi Riad sustained a season-ending injury, Palace had no choice but to reject a late bid from Tottenham for captain Marc Guéhi given that Glasner only has three frontline central defenders left. Guéhi looks set to depart in the summer when he enters the final year of his contract, with Liverpool and Chelsea among several other interested clubs. EA.