Manchester City have already made the standout move of the winter window by landing Marc Guehi for a fee that looks a bargain in the current market, setting the tone for GOAL’s 2026 January transfer grades.
While plenty of clubs have been active, City’s early business has been judged the clearest statement, with Guehi’s arrival giving Pep Guardiola another top-level option at the back. The deal has been viewed as smart value, and one that could have an immediate impact on City’s push across competitions in the second half of the season.
GOAL’s round-up of the 2026 January market highlights that, amid the usual mid-season scramble, it is the champions who have moved quickest and most decisively. Some teams have taken big swings, others have tried short-term fixes, and several have already found themselves paying over the odds.
City, though, have been credited with getting ahead of the curve. With Guehi in the door, their window has been rated as the one to beat, both for the quality of the player and the price agreed, as the rest of the league now tries to respond before the deadline.
