There’s nothing quite like the moment when you spot a forgotten player making a shock transfer or the realisation when you see a familiar name on a new team sheet.
And the past week has seen a number of deals fly under the radar, including Barcelona’s new goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. The 31-year-old Croat starred for Dinamo Zagreb before joining Fenerbahce in 2023. After loan spells at Girona and back in Zagreb, he’s joined Barcelona for £2m as backup to Joan Garcia.
Ex-Manchester City youngster Seko Fofana was one of the most sought-after midfielders in the world in 2023 after a stellar campaign with Lens, but the Ivory Coast international opted for the money of Saudi, joining Al-Nassr and losing his sparkle. Having spent last year on loan at Porto from Rennes, Fofana has rejoined the Portuguese giants.
While not the first name on the teamsheet at Juventus, Mattia Perin was a great servant to the Turin giants, playing 70 times in eight years. But the goalkeeper has now joined Palermo to become No.1 in a £343,000 deal.
Adama Traore will no longer be scarring the life out of English defences, or those sat behind the goal, as the 30-year-old speedster joined Deportivo de A Coruna on a free transfer from West Ham.
Former Liverpool youngster Ki-Jana Hoever has finally made a permanent exit from Wolves after his baffling £9m switch in 2020. The Dutch defender flopped and headed out on five different loan deals, but the 24-year-old has now completed a £1.7m move to Sparta Prague.
Christopher Nkunku is one of Chelsea’s most expensive flops after scoring just six Premier League goals in two years following a £52m switch from RB Leipzig. But the 28-year-old Frenchman is returning to his former club on loan with an option to buy from AC Milan, who he joined from the Blues in 2025 for £35m.
Liverpool’s efforts to bring in new additions has seen Calvin Ramsay’s loan switch to St Mirren go under radar. The 23-year-old is heading out on his fifth loan spell in three years as the Reds continue to hold out hope he can make the grade in the first-team.
Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor made all the headlines but his former Reds team-mate Fabinho has also joined him in Turkey. The 32-year-old midfielder made the free transfer from Al Ittihad this week.
Another former Liverpool player was on the move this week, with left-back Alberto Moreno joining second-tier Spanish outfit Mallorca from Como. The 34-year-old left Anfield in 2019, spending five years at Villarreal and the last two years at Como.
Breel Embolo is on the move again after just one year at Rennes, temporarily ending his career in Europe to join MLS side Atlanta United. The Swiss forward joins on a four-year deal as a designated player.
There was plenty of talk earlier in the window about Darwin Nunez being on the move but the £85m Liverpool flop will remain in Saudi, joining Al-Diriyah on loan from Al-Hilal. The Reds recouped £45m on Nunez when he moved to the Middle East in 2025 but he’s been unable to find any form.
A blast from the past, former Blackburn and Stoke midfielder Steven Nzoni has joined Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque. The 37-year-old won the World Cup with France in 2018, but is still chasing the buzz back in his homeland after signing as a free agent.