(Football news) The 2023/24 winter transfer window has come and gone, and some of the squads in LALIGA EA SPORTS now look quite different. There were arrivals and departures, as sporting directors around the country made moves to improve their teams’ chances of achieving their objectives. Here’s all you need to know.
Ten new arrivals at Granada CF
Without a doubt, the busiest club during the January transfer window was Granada CF. The Andalusian club won LALIGA HYPERMOTION last season but were struggling in LALIGA EA SPORTS and knew change was needed. With that in mind, they completely revamped the squad by bringing in 10 new faces: goalkeepers Augusto Batalla and Marc Martínez, defenders Kamil Piatkowski, Faitout Maouassa and Bruno Méndez, midfielder Martin Hongla, wingers Theo Corbeanu, Facundo Pellistri and Kamil Jóźwiak and forward Matías Arezo.
Vitor Roque is already earning points for FC Barcelona
It had been known for some time that the young Brazilian striker Vitor Roque was going to join FC Barcelona, and the 18-year-old made the move from Athletico Paranaense to Catalonia at the beginning of January. He has already scored a match-winner for Barça, netting the only goal of the team’s 1-0 win over CA Osasuna, so the fans are excited about this top prospect.
Atlético de Madrid win the race to sign Arthur Vermeeren
Having helped Royal Antwerp win a championship and having recently made his Belgium national team debut, Arthur Vermeeren entered the January transfer market as one of the most sought-after young players in Europe. And, it was Atlético de Madrid who won the race to sign the 18-year-old Belgian midfielder.
Gabriel Paulista switches Valencia CF for Atlético de Madrid
Atlético de Madrid also made headlines by signing Gabriel Paulista from Valencia CF in January. The arrival of the 33-year-old centre-back is great news for fans of Los Colchoneros, as there were gaps in central defence, especially after the injury of César Azpilicueta.
Real Betis make a statement by signing Pablo Fornals
It was a particularly busy deadline day at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, the home of Real Betis. Of all the club’s signings, the acquisition of midfielder Pablo Fornals from West Ham really stands out. The midfielder has played six times for Spain and is 27 years of age, so very much in his prime. His arrival is excellent news for coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Real Betis strengthen their attack with Chimy Ávila and Bakambu
Real Betis also set out to solve some of their goalscoring headaches on deadline day. Firstly, they brought in Chimy Ávila from CA Osasuna, as the Argentinian has built up a reputation as a scorer of great goals. Not only that, but Los Verdiblancos also signed Cédric Bakambu to help with their scoring needs. The centre-forward is returning to the league where he netted 31 times in 75 appearances for Villarreal CF between 2015 and 2018.
Familiar faces return
Bakambu is far from the only former LALIGA EA SPORTS player to have returned to Spanish football’s top flight in the past month. For example, former Valencia CF star Gonçalo Guedes has moved back to the Valencian Community to sign with Villarreal CF, where he’ll encounter centre-back Eric Bailly, who has rejoined El Submarino Amarillo. Elsewhere, Juanmi is back in Spain’s top flight after signing with Cádiz CF, Facundo Pellistri has returned to the competition by joining the Granada CF project and Ilaix Moriba has come back to Spain to play for Getafe CF.
The youngest ever LALIGA EA SPORTS player signs for UD Almería
Another returnee is Luka Romero, the young winger who has joined UD Almería on loan from AC Milan. He is a very special player in LALIGA EA SPORTS history, as he remains the youngest ever footballer to take to the pitch in Spanish football’s top division. Romero earned that honour when he debuted for RCD Mallorca against Real Madrid in 2020, aged 15 years and 219 days.
Guardado and Rakitić bid farewell
Of course, a transfer window is as much about departures as it is arrivals. And, two of the most emotional departures saw players pass through Seville Airport. In the green and white half of the city, Andrés Guardado waved goodbye to Real Betis after making 218 appearances for the club since joining in 2017, the most of any foreigner in club history. Then, Sevilla FC bid farewell to Ivan Rakitić, their former captain and a player who made 323 appearances for the team across two stints.
Carlos Vicente makes the step up to LALIGA EA SPORTS
Deportivo Alavés made an intriguing signing this window by bringing in winger Carlos Vicente from Racing de Ferrol, the Galician club taking LALIGA HYPERMOTION by storm. Vicente scored four goals and assisted four more from the wing in 21 appearances in the second tier, and has already added two more assists since making the step up to LALIGA EA SPORTS by joining the Basque club.
