Regardless of the ongoing pandemic, the footballing show must go on and clubs had to use the January transfer window to full effect when needed.
Granted, it hasn't quite been as dramatic and high spending as usual - the January 2021 window is officially the quietest transfer window since 2010 - there were still deals to be had, and bargains in the case of some clubs.
With the drama of deadline day and clubs like Liverpool hogging the headlines in their month-long search for a central defender, plenty of interesting moves slip under the radar. Don't worry, though, because 90min has rounded up those exact transfers and compiled them into one article, just for you.
Here is a list of all the key transfers that you might not have noticed even happened during the January transfer window.
1. Sami Khedira - Juventus to Hertha BSC (Free)
?️ @SamiKhedira is next to face the press: I haven't played in the Bundesliga for over ten years. I want to play and take on responsibility. We have a young squad with lots of potential, but they haven't shown it on the pitch yet. I want to help us do better!
— Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) February 2, 2021
#HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/rLocb4YiaN
Despite being linked with a move to the Premier League and endlessly flirting with Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti about reuniting, Sami Khedira has returned to his native Germany on a free transfer.
There's no time for romance in Berlin, though; his new club sit 15th in the Bundesliga.
2. Mario Mandzukic - Unattached to Milan
Boosting the ranks for the second half of the season, snapping up Mario Mandzukic on a free transfer is an underrated piece of business from Milan.
He provides solid competition in the race for the Scudetto and gives them the - admittedly unlikely - option of fielding the most physically intimidating front two in football.
3. Shane Long - Southampton to Bournemouth (loan)
??’? ???? ?
— AFC Bournemouth ? (@afcbournemouth) February 2, 2021
We’re delighted to welcome Shane Long on loan until the end of the season ?@ShaneLong7 // #afcb ?
Replacing the outgoing Joshua King who left for Everton, Bournemouth's choice to turn to temporary yet experienced in Shane Long could prove a shrewd signing.
The 34-year-old had fallen down the pecking order at Southampton and was only going to fall even further following the arrival of Liverpool's Takumi Minamino.
4. Yannick Bolasie - Everton to Middlesbrough (loan)
First competitive club game for over 3️⃣3️⃣8️⃣Days5️⃣5️⃣mins in the tank ✅ that felt good ???
— Yannick Bolasie (@YannickBolasie) January 30, 2021
All I can say is thank god firstly ??& secondly the manager for putting his faith in me from the jump, what a great team performance away from home against tough opponents #YYB pic.twitter.com/Gc8Pfu5QRY
The latest in Yannick Bolasie's efforts to find regular football, the 31-year-old has reunited with former manager Neil Warnock at Middlesbrough on loan to the end of the season.
It's his fourth loan as an Everton player.
