A lot of noise and not a lot of nuts (as we say over here) in the winter transfer market so far, with nothing to remotely match Mata’s big money move from Chelsea to Manchester United. In the absence of any real news, the sports papers are full of the usual rumours, but the reality is that clubs have no money to spend (with the obvious two exceptions), and are making do with one or two re-touches to the squads they have. Even so there were over 30 moves in the top two divisions since our last report a few days ago, many being loan deals to the end of the season. Valencia for example signed Napoli’s Vargas, Granada took on Liverpool’s Tiago Llori, Rayo tied up Blackburn’s Rochina, Almería moved for Sevilla’s third keeper Julián to replace Ustari, who has moved to Sunderland, etc., etc. For details on these and other moves see below. (24.01.14)
Colour coding: Green - deals ostensibly completed, but still not closed, or player on trial; Blue - deals closed now, but will take place at a later date; Red - deals closed but subsequently cancelled. Alphabetical order by first and then second division clubs.
Player (Country) | Old club | New club | Position/Comments |
Julián | Sevilla | Almería | GK Have signed Sevilla's third keeper on loan to end of season to replace Ustari, who has moved to Sunderland. |
Ustari (ARG) | Almería | Sunderland (ENG) | GK Ex Getafe keeper not happy about being sub, and has agreed to rescind contract and move to Premier League. |
Gabriel Calderón (ARG) |
Bahrein national side |
Betis |
MG Have fired Garrido after only 6 weeks in charge, and have appointed new coach to end of season, plus one more if he saves them from relegation. |
Leo Baptistao (BZL / SPA) | Atlético Madrid | Betis | FW Injuries kept him out of Simeone's plans, so moves on loan to get playing time. |
Cristian Erbes (ARG) | Boca Juniors (ARG) |
Betis |
MF Reported to have paid US$3 Mio for midfielder, who signs on 4 year deal. Still not confirmed though? |
Sergio Rodríguez | Betis B | Lugo | MF Promising B team player hasn't been able to break in to first team, so agrees loan move to get playing time. |
Iñigo López | Granada / PAOK Salonica (GRE) | Celta | DF Two year loan period in Greece ends early, and agrees another loan move to Vigo to replace Samuel. |
Samuel Llorca | Celta | Alavés | DF Will rejoin Mandiá on loan to end of season. Hasn't played much due to injury. |
Jonathan Vila | Celta | Beitar Jerusalem (ISR) | DF Has hardly played under Luis Enrique, and agrees terms to join ex team mate Túñez on loan to end of season. |
Diego Rivas | Elche / Eibar | Tenerife | GK Loan period at Eibar ended early, and moves to Canary Islands on loan to replace Sergio Aragoneses, who has decided to leave club. |
Sammir (CRO) |
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) |
Getafe |
MF Brazilian born Croatian international has announced that he will be joining Getafe, but probably not until the summer. |
Tiago Llori (POR) | Liverpool (ENG) | Granada | DF Young centre back has not played all season since joining in summer, so loan deal agreed for him to get playing time. |
Alfredo Ortuño | La Hoya Lorca | Granada / Girona | FW Signed young striker from second division B side and have loaned him back out to Girona. |
Fabrice (CAM) | Málaga | Apollo Limassol (CYP) / Zulte Waregem (BEL) | FW Youngest goalscorer in the league has been signed for €0.5 Mio by Cypriot club, who will loan him on to Zulte. |
Chan (PAN) / Anderson (IVC) | Málaga | Zulte Waregem (BEL) | DF / MF Have hardly played this season, and both move on loan to Belgian side, where they will team up with Fabrice. |
Acuña (PAR / SPA) | Udinese (ITA) / Watford (ENG) | Osasuna | FW Ex Castilla & Girona striker returns to Spain on loan to end of season after spell in UK. |
Rubén Rochina | Blackburn Rovers (ENG) | Rayo Vallecano | FW Ex Barça B striker will return to Spain for another loan spell after spending half of last season at Zaragoza. |
Rodri |
Rayo Vallecano |
AS Eupen (BEL) |
DF Injuries had kept him out of the side, so agrees to rescind contract and try his luck with Belgian 2nd division side. |
Stevanovic (BOS) | Elche | Sevilla | MF Have agreed to end loan period early, and will probably be loaned on elsewhere for him to get playing time pre World Cup. |
Rabello (CHL) | Sevilla | Deportivo | MF Third winter signing for Depor after Culio was sold to raise funds. Loan move. Hasn't had many chances with Emery since joining. |
Vargas (CHL) | Napoli (ITA) | Valencia | FW Pizzi has got the striker he wanted to strengthen his attack. Will join on loan to end of season at a cost of around €0.5 Mio. |
Mitrovic (SER) | Benfica (POR) | Valladolid | DF Have strengthened defence with loan signing. Omly joined Benfica in summer from Belgium. |
Guillermo Méndez (URU) |
Standard Liège / Sint-Truiden (BEL) |
Alcorcón |
MF Duchatelet brings another of his young hopefuls to his new club. Joins Biton on loan. |
Dudu Biton (ISR) | Standard Liège (BEL) | Alcorcón | FW New owner starting to make his mark? Have signed Israeli striker on loan from one of Duchatelet's other clubs. |
Nieto | Racing Santander | Córdoba | FW Played previously for Castilla, Almería, Xerez & Numancia. Joins on free transfer to replace Strahman. |
Juanlu | Kalloni (GRE) | Córdoba | MF Ex Betis and Levante flanker returns to another of his old clubs after short spell in Greece. |
Armando | Córdoba | New York Red Bulls (USA) | DF Ex Barça B defender will join Thierry Henry's side in New York. Already had a short spell in Mexico. |
Toché | Panathinaikos (GRE) | Deportivo | FW Another prodigal son on his way back to Spain! Ex Atlético etc forward reported to be signing after rescinding contract with Greek side. |
Salomao (POR) | Sporting Lisbon (POR) | Deportivo | MF Last act of Lendoiro before stepping down was to bring back winger on loan for third season in a row. |
Culio (ARG) | Deportivo | Al Wasl (UAE) |
FW Had to let star forward go to Dubai to pay back wages and other costs. Reported fee of around €300,000. |
David Mainz | Willstermann (BOL) | Eibar | FW Striker moved to Bolivia after winning promotion from 2B last season, and returns after 6 months. |
Bruno Herrero |
Buriram United (TAI) |
Girona |
MF Ex Sevilla midfielder left Xerez for Thailand a few months ago, but has agreed terms to return to Spain. |
Agostinho Cá (POR) | Barcelona B | Girona | MF String of injuries since joining from Sporting Lisbon has meant he hasn't played much, so moves out on loan. |
Oscar Rico | Tenerife | Jaén | MF contract rescinded at Tenerife, so has accepted offer of 18 month deal with andalusians. |
Aki Ienaga (JPN) | Mallorca | Omiya Ardija (JPN) | FW Has agreed terms to rescind contract, and is expected to return to J-League. |
Geromel (BZL) | Mallorca | Gremio Porto Alegre (BZL) | DF Has agreed to return to Brazil on two year deal. Will be replaced by Cadamuro. |
Pablo Teixiera / Willian José (BZL) | Figueirense / Santos (BZL) | Real Madrid Castilla | FW Have signed two young forwards on loan with buy out option at end of season to strengthen squad. |
Mata |
Chelsea (ENG) |
Manchester United (ENG) |
MF Not a move involving Spanish teams, we know, but he is one of our boys! Star signing for Man U, who paid club record GBP37 Mio for him. |