The January transfer window has reached a fever pitch with a flurry of high-profile activity across the Premier League. Manchester City have sanctioned the permanent departure of Norwegian starlet Oscar Bobb to Fulham, while West Ham United have reluctantly bid farewell to Lucas Paquetá, who returns to his native Brazil.
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Bobb Swaps the Etihad for Craven Cottage
Manchester City have formalised a £27m deal with Fulham for the permanent transfer of Oscar Bobb. The 22-year-old wide forward, who dazzled during City’s pre-season but found minutes hard to come by under Pep Guardiola, moves to West London in search of regular first-team football.
True to their recent transfer strategy, City have protected their long-term interests by inserting a 20% sell-on clause and “matching rights.” This allows the champions to bypass competition and re-sign Bobb should Fulham accept a future bid from another suitor—a mechanism recently utilised to bring goalkeeper James Trafford back to the Etihad. Bobb’s time in Manchester was hampered by a fractured leg and subsequent hamstring issues, limiting him to just 15 appearances this term.
Paquetá’s Emotional Exit to Flamengo
In the East End, West Ham’s struggle for Premier League survival has been complicated by the departure of Lucas Paquetá. The Brazilian midfielder has joined Flamengo for €42m (£36.3m), ending a saga defined by the player’s desire to return home following a harrowing two-year investigation into spot-fixing.
Though Paquetá was cleared of all charges in July 2025, the mental toll of the investigation—which saw a dream move to Manchester City collapse in 2024—proved insurmountable. West Ham officials admitted they were “reluctantly” granting his request for a fresh start in Rio de Janeiro.
West Ham’s Tactical Reshuffle
To mitigate the loss of Paquetá and Guido Rodríguez (who joined Valencia), the Hammers have moved swiftly to bring in Adama Traoré from Fulham. The Spanish winger reunites with manager Nuno Espírito Santo, having previously enjoyed a productive relationship at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Simultaneously, set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse has departed for Burnley on loan. The 31-year-old had become a peripheral figure under Nuno, often training away from the senior group. Burnley, also embroiled in a relegation scrap, view Ward-Prowse’s experience as vital for their survival hopes.
| Player | From | To | Fee/Type |
| Oscar Bobb | Manchester City | Fulham | £27m |
| Lucas Paquetá | West Ham | Flamengo | £36.3m |
| Adama Traoré | Fulham | West Ham | Undisclosed |
| James Ward-Prowse | West Ham | Burnley | Loan |
| Douglas Luiz | Juventus | Aston Villa | Loan (Option to Buy) |
Villa Reunited with Douglas Luiz
In the Midlands, Unai Emery has secured a familiar face to bolster his injury-ravaged midfield. Douglas Luiz returns to Aston Villa on loan from Juventus. Having struggled to settle in Italy and seeing a loan spell at Nottingham Forest curtailed, the Brazilian returns to Villa Park to fill the void left by the injured Youri Tielemans. The deal reportedly includes a permanent purchase option, potentially undoing his £42.35m exit in 2024.