Top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January Transfers

When we talk about football, we can't forget to mention Portugal because the popularity of football is tremendous among the nation. That's the reason that this country has produced many greatest football players of all time. The Primeira Liga, which was named Liga NOS until the 2020-21 season and since then is known as Liga Portugal Bwin, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system. The competition in the league has grown with Sporting joining Porto and Benfica in the competition to win the Primeira Liga title after almost two decades in the 2020-21 season.

Portuguese clubs have been making huge progress since their championship in

, and now, Portugal national football squad 2021 is said to be one of the best in their history, being made up of players who are not only the best in their clubs, but they are even among the best players of the league they play in. During the Primeira Liga January transfer window 2022, clubs were also eager to add quality to their squad ahead of an eventful season.

Upcoming players tend to thrive in such setups and thereby induce elements to their skillset that further assist in improving the level at which the sport is played in the league.

Everything You Should Know About Top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January Transfers

Reviewing Primeira Liga January transfer window 2022, in this article we introduce you to the list of the top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers who stood out from other football transfer news during the last January. Always considered as a stepping stone to jump to elite leagues, Primeira Liga has been always catchy with its numerous incredible players, and Primeira Liga’s January news was full of thrills in that order.

10. João Carlos Teixeira

• Club:

  FC Famalicão

• Age:

  29

• Post:

  Attacking Midfielder

• Transfer Fee:

  Free

• Nationality:

  Portugal

Although Teixeira was not able to reach the potential once Sporting and Liverpool Academy expected of him, being still a decisive player, his free transfer from Feyenoord to FC Famalicão is the first entry in our list of the

top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers

, scoring two goals and providing two assists in his 5 Portuguese league appearances since his transfer shows his talent well.

Teixeira joined Sporting CP from hometown club Braga in 2004 and progressed through the youth teams. Showing great promises, he joined Liverpool in a €1.20m deal during the January 2012 transfer window. Upon joining Liverpool, Teixeira was hailed as "the new Deco". After signing with Liverpool, Teixeira had to sit out the rest of the 2011-12 season due to a back injury. On 12 February 2014, Teixeira made his Liverpool debut, coming on as a substitute wearing the number 53 shirt in a 3-2 win at Fulham.

After playing some part in the first team's 2014-15 pre-season schedule, Teixeira moved on loan to Championship outfit Brighton. Teixeira finished the season as Brighton's top scorer in the Championship with six goals before suffering a broken leg while playing for Brighton in April 2015. He was ruled out for a long spell and returned to Liverpool for treatment. On 28 October 2015, Teixeira made just his second appearance for the club, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Teixeira played a massive part in the winning goal, with his cheeky backheel assisting Nathaniel Clyne to slot it in.

On 10 June 2016, it was confirmed that Teixeira would be leaving Liverpool in the summer for Porto upon the expiration of his contract. Reports stated that he was offered a new deal, but he turned it down in favor of more playing time at another club. Liverpool received £250,000 compensation for the transfer. Upon 89 first-tier league appearances through his career for Liverpool, Porto, Braga, Vitória Guimarães, and Feyenoord, Teixeira contributed a total of 10 goals and 10 assists, which is remarkable for a player whose career was overshadowed by numerous injuries. With

standing 12th in the Primeira Liga table scoring only 32 goals in 25 matches, Teixeira's addition would shift their hopes for the current season.

9. Jhonder Cádiz

• Club:

  FC Famalicão

• Age:

  26

• Post:

  Striker

• Transfer Fee:

  €1m

• Nationality:

  Venezuela

Famalicao was busy reinforcing their attack department through

Portuguese Super Liga transfers

last January, and one of their most promising signings was the Venezuela international, Jhonder Cádiz, who joined the club for approximately €1m from Benfica.

Cádiz started his senior career with the same club he progressed through youth ranks, and he made his professional debut in Deportivo Petare's 0–0 Primera División draw against Atlético El Vigía on 29 March 2012 before spending two seasons playing for Caracas FC.

Cádiz was loaned to Portuguese club C.F. União on 3 July 2015 and moved to fellow Madeira club C.D. Nacional a year later after impressing in Liga NOS, signing a three-year deal. Cádiz made his European debut with CF União Madeira in 2015, and since then he has been a mainstay in Portugal’s top league of soccer. His highest statistical jump came in the 2018-2019 season where the Venezuelan scored a career-high 10 goals while adding two assists in 35 matches for Vitoria Setubal.

The Portuguese champions Benfica signed Cadiz on a five-year contract for a €2.50m fee in June 2019 and immediately loaned him to Ligue 1 club, Dijon, for the season. Impressing through Dijon, he contributed two goals and two assists through 17 Ligue 1 appearances for the club before heading back to Benfica next summer. Cádiz became the fifth Venezuelan player to score in Ligue 1 over the past 50 seasons when he netted the winning brace in a 2-1 victory over 2020 UEFA Champions League Finalist Paris Saint-German on Nov. 2, 2019.

Cádiz joined MLS side Nashville SC on loan until 30 June 2021. On 29 June 2021, his contract for the U.S. club has been extended. However, the club opted against activating the buy-option they had included in the Venezuelan’s contract. Over 35 appearances for the MLS outfit, Cadiz contributed five goals and two assists. In a total of 147 first-tier appearances, Cadiz has scored 27 goals and provided a further 12 assists. With Famalicão standing 12th in the Primeira Liga table scoring only 32 goals in 25 matches, the addition of Cadiz boosts the club’s ambitions for the current season.

8. Pedrão

• Club:

  Portimonense SC

• Age:

  24

• Post:

  Defensive Midfielder/Centre-Back

• Transfer Fee:

  €0.8m

• Nationality:

  Brazil

Born in São Paulo and a product of Água Santa academy, Pedro Henrique de Oliveira Correia is the next addition to our list of the top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers. His breakthrough came when playing for the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, he drew the attention of scouts as he was promoted to the senior ranks of the club.

In December 2017, Palmeiras announced the signing of Pedrão on a five year deal after a loan spell with the club from Agua Santa. After two loan spells at América Mineiro and Athletico Paranaense, he joined Liga NOS side Nacional on loan, raking up 30 league appearances and showing solid performances before gaining another loan move to Portugal on 11 August 2021 as he joined

. Portimonense made the transfer permanent in January for a €0.8m fee.

As provided for in the transfer agreement between clubs, the Algarve will pay 800 thousand euros for 50% of the pass of the Brazilian centre-back, who will sign a bond valid for five seasons (until 2027), with a termination clause of no less than 20 millions of euros. Pedro started as a defender, but because he likes to go up to the attack and score goals, he was positioned as a defensive midfielder. He can also play on the right side. In the past Paulistão, he was responsible for an assist in Água Santa's 4-1 victory over Palmeiras. He is 1.94m and has a lot to learn and above all not to let himself at this point in his life and activity be held back by excessive ambition.

7. Nicolás Gaitán

• Club:

  FC Paços de Ferreira

• Age:

  33

• Post:

  Attacking Midfielder/Winger

• Transfer Fee:

  Free

• Nationality:

  Argentina

Next in our list of the

top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers

is the former Benfica and Atletico Madrid midfielder, Gaitan.

Born in San Martín, Buenos Aires, Gaitan started his career at Boca Juniors and made his competitive debut with the club on 1 June 2008 in a 3–1 win against Arsenal de Sarandí. He scored his first two Primera División goals two months later in a 3–0 victory at Huracán. Gaitán scored seven times in 33 games in his last season with Boca, who only managed to finish 11th in the Apertura league. He made a €8.40m move to Benfica on July 1, 2010, replacing his fellow countryman Ángel Di María who had just been sold to Real Madrid. Gaitan opened up his goalscoring account with a brace at home against Naval on 14 November, in a match Benfica won 4-0.

Gaitán finished his first year with the Lisbon side with 48 appearances in all competitions comprised, scoring nine times as it finished second in the league and won the domestic league cup. For his performances, he was named Portuguese League Breakthrough Player of the Year.

Success followed Gaitan through

as on 15 May 2016, he scored twice in a 4–1 home win against Nacional, helping Benfica to secure the league title for the third consecutive season. Gaitan scored Benfica's fourth goal in a 6–2 win over Marítimo in the Taça da Liga final. A minute later, he was substituted and received a standing ovation while leaving the pitch in tears. After the final whistle, he said it was probably his last match with Benfica before making a €25m switch to Atletico Madrid. His official presentation for the Spanish side was held on 19 July at the Vicente Calderón stadium. In a total of 253 appearances for Benfica, Gaitan contributed a handsome tally of 41 goals and 89 assists.

However, the Argentine failed to impress at Madrid as through the 49 appearances he made across two seasons, he only managed to score four goals and provide five assists. On 26 February 2018, along with teammate Yannick Carrasco, Gaitán joined Chinese Super League newcomers Dalian Yifang, which was also held by Atlético Madrid's partial owner Wanda Group.

Gaitán signed for MLS side Chicago Fire on a free transfer in March 2019 and joined Lille on a six-month contract in January 2020. Following the suspension of the league for the Covid-19 pandemic, Gaitán signed for Portuguese club Braga on a one-year deal before signing for Uruguayan side Peñarol where he joined former teammate and friend Maxi Pereira.

In the last January’s deadline, after already reaching an agreement with his previous club to end their contract, Paços de Ferreira and Gaitán reached a deal for a six-month contract with an option for a further year. In a total of 332 first-tier appearances, Gaitan has managed to score 49 goals and provide 96 assists, and so far this season he scored a goal in only two appearances for Paços de Ferreira and was a great catch for the Primeira Liga outfit through Portuguese Super Liga transfers.

6. Osama Rashid

• Club:

  FC Vizela

• Age:

  30

• Post:

  Centre-Midfielder

• Transfer Fee:

  €0.3m

• Nationality:

  Iraq

FC Vizela also saw some thrills during

Primeira Liga January transfer window 2022

, they signed up the former Feyenoord and Santa Clara star, Osama Rashid from

.

Born in Kirkuk, Iraq, Rashid joined Feyenoord in 1999 and rose through the ranks before starting his senior career at Den Bosch. In 2012, Wolfgang Sidka, a former Werder Bremen player who was coach of Iraq at the time, arranged a trial for Rashid at the Bundesliga club. He was invited for another trial and was ultimately offered a contract by Werder Bremen, which he turned down citing his desire to finish his studies. Rashid signed for S.C. Farense in the second-highest Portuguese division. He made his debut on 8 August 2015 against Académico Viseu. He scored his first goal against Covilhã on matchday 7. Rashid was a regular in the team making league 41 appearances, scoring 6 times. Rashid finally got his share of top-flight football after signing for Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv. A year later, failing to adjust to the lifestyle of the country, Rashid returned to Portugal joining C.D. Santa Clara.

He made his debut for Santa Clara as a second-half substitute in a match versus Gil Vicente on 12 February 2017. He had his first start three days later in a 2–0 win against Cova Piedade and scored his first goal. Rashid was injured in January and it took him almost three months to recover, he returned to action against CD Nacional, assisting twice in a 3–3 draw. Rashid then scored in the next two games, against Famalicão and Oliveirense to help Santa Clara win the promotion and reach Primeira Liga.

In his first season in the Portuguese top flight. Osama scored three and assisted another three in his first six games of the season. On the matchday 21 fixture against Boavista Osama ruptured his knee ligament and was subbed off in the 31st minute. He ended the domestic season with 25 games, 7 goals, and six assists while Santa Clara finished in 10th place with 42 points. He then had two spells at Turkish club Gaziantep and UAE club Khor Fakkan before making a move to FC Vizela, where he has made 6 appearances since joining in January.

5. Islam Slimani

• Club:

  Sporting CP

• Age:

  33

• Post:

  Striker

• Transfer Fee:

  Free

• Nationality:

  Algeria

Next in our list of the top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers is the former

, Newcastle United, Monaco, and Lyon Algerian striker, Islam Slimani, who made a surprise return to the club he owed his career to, Sporting.

Born in Algiers, Algeria, Slimani joined Sporting CP on 6 August 2013 from CR Belouizdad for a reported €0.3m fee after scoring 32 goals in less than 100 matches for the Algerian outfit.

He started the 2013–14 season as a substitute, gaining a reputation as an impact player due to him scoring vital goals when coming off the bench. However, Slimani soon became a starter and scored four goals in four matches in early March 2014 against Rio Ave, Braga, Vitória de Setúbal, and in 1–0 over arch-rivals Porto. In December 2013 he was considered the best Algerian footballer of the year as he won the Algerian Golden Ball.

At the end of his second season with Sporting, he finished third in the league but reached the Taça de Portugal final against Braga, where he scored a goal helping Sporting turn around a two-goal deficit to eventually secure the cup following a penalty shootout 3–1 on 31 May 2015. He achieved his first title in his career.

Slimani played 33 games that season and scored 15 goals, including 12 in the league. In the 2015–16 season, Slimani said he would be his last season and aspires to achieve the title of the Primeira Liga absent for 14 years the new and former Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who said he would rely heavily on Slimani to win the titles. In the final round, he scored his 27th goal of the season against Braga. The match ended 4–0 but was not enough for Sporting to win the league title, as Benfica ended with more two points. That season, Slimani scored 27 goals in the league but finished behind top scorer Jonas, with 32 goals.

He then joined Leicester City on a €31.00m deal, failing to impress, he had loan spells at Newcastle, Fenerbahce, and Monaco before joining Lyon permanently in 2021. However, he made his heart to terminate his contract to rejoin Sporting last January, contributing 3 goals and 1 assist in only 5 appearances since he joined the club.

4. Bruno Gaspar

• Club:

   Vitória Guimarães SC

• Age: 

  28

• Post:

   Right-Back

• Transfer Fee:

   Swap Deal

• Nationality: 

  Portugal/Angola

Born in Évora, Alto Alentejo Province, the solid full-back, Bruno Gaspar is the next addition to our list of the top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers.

Gaspar joined S.L. Benfica's youth academy as a 12-year-old. On 2 September 2014, Gaspar was loaned to Primeira Liga club Vitória de Guimarães. For the 2015–16 campaign, the move was made permanent and the player signed a four-year contract. On 19 June 2017, Gaspar agreed to a five-year deal with ACF Fiorentina from Italy before returning to his homeland with Sporting a year later. After loan spells at Olympiacos and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Gaspar returned to Vitória Guimarães on the last day of the 2022 January transfer window in a deal where Marcus Edwards moved in the opposite direction.

The versatile Angolan international defender boasts a resume that includes over 200 appearances for club and country. Prior to joining Whitecaps FC, Gaspar most recently helped Olympiacos FC win the 2019-20 Super League and Greek Football Cup competitions while on loan. He arrived in Vancouver from Sporting CP, having helped the Portuguese giants capture both the Taça da Liga and Taça de Portugal titles during the 2018-19 season. The defender has also featured for Olympiacos and Sporting CP in the UEFA Europa League, making seven combined appearances since 2018 in one of Europe’s top-tier club football competitions.

Back at the castle, after a very successful first spell that took him to new heights, Bruno Gaspar is looking forward to playing with the Victorian jersey again.

3. Kevin Mirallas

• Club:

  Moreirense FC

• Age:

  34

• Post:

  Right-Winger

• Transfer Fee:

  Free

• Nationality:

  Belgium

Next in our list of the top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers is the former Belgium international, Kevin Mirallas.

Mirallas spent his youth career playing for his hometown club, Standard Liège before leaving his country to start his senior career with the Ligue 1 outfit, Lille, in the 2004-05 season. Mirallas participated in the UEFA Cup in his first season at Lille before transferring to Saint-Etienne for €4 million in 2008, where he made himself a name by scoring a stunner against Lyon on his debut. In June 2010, Mirallas joined the Greek club Olympiacos on a one-year loan for a fee of €2.5m, where he helped the side win the league as he finished as the competition's top scorer with 20 goals. In August 2012, Mirallas joined the Premier League club,

, for a €7.6m fee. Mirallas went on to score 38 goals in 186 appearances before ending his 7-year stay at the Merseyside club for Antwerp.

After some excellent seasons between 2012 and 2016, the attacker struggled to cement himself in Ronald Koeman's side, though he still signed a new deal with the club in May 2017. Mirallas' final competitive appearance for Everton came in the Europa League in December 2017, with the forward joining former club Olympiacos on loan for the second half of the season. Fiorentina signed Mirallas on a season-long loan for 2018-19 and the Belgium international featured 30 times for La Viola.

After a spell with Gaziantep, Mirallas joined Moreirense FC as a free agent. In a total of 420 first-tier league appearances, Mirallas has scored 87 goals and provided 53 assists. Mirallas was deployed as a center-forward for Olympiacos, but after his move to Everton, he been deployed mainly as a winger or a free-roaming forward. He is known for his pace, close ball control, passing ability, and proficiency in one-on-one situations.

2. Marcus Edwards

• Club:

  Sporting CP

• Age:

  23

• Post:

  Right-Winger

• Transfer Fee:

  €7.50m + Bruno Gaspar

• Nationality:

  England

Next in our list of the

top 10 Primeira Liga 2022 January transfers

once dubbed by Tottenham fans as the “Mini Messi”, and although he couldn’t follow the ranks of the Spurs Academy into the first team, he saved his career by a 2019 move to Portuguese football, when after loan spells at Norwich City and Excelsior, he joined Vitória de Guimarães following expiration of his Tottenham contract. Following the transfer, the Primeria Liga club agreed to receive only 50% of any future transfer fees, and that was a huge reason why his January transfer to Sporting included Bruno Gaspar going the other way.

Born in Enfield and joining the Tottenham academy at eight years of age, Edwards is a naturally gifted attacker with a low centre of gravity and strong dribbling skills and was seen as one of the best products coming through a system that had produced Harry Kane just a few years before. No breakthrough came at Tottenham. But after time in the wilderness, Edwards is killing it in the Portuguese top flight.

With a January move from Vitoria de Guimaraes to regining Portuguese champions Sporting, Edwards has stepped back up to a Champions League club. And with Sporting playing Manchester City in the last 16, he may finally get the chance to imprint his name onto English football’s collective consciousness.

After his move to Vitoria, a 20-year-old with limited senior experience making such a move to a different country was a brave endeavor, but it has paid off handsomely. Edwards announced himself for his new club in his old home town. Vitoria had drawn Arsenal in the Europa League group stage, and the winger was returning to face the old enemy. Unai Emery’s Arsenal played a strong team, but they struggled to contain Edwards, who opened his account for the club in the eighth minute at the Emirates.

 Edwards would go on to provide 16 more goal contributions in the season and half that followed, including scoring away at Porto, showing that he is not one to be overawed by the occasion. Come January 2022, that improvement in end product and mentality earned him a big move to the Primeira Liga title-contenders, Sporting.

1. Wenderson Galeno

• Club:

  FC Porto

• Age:

  24

• Post:

  Left Winger

• Transfer Fee:

  €9m

• Nationality:

  Brazil

The transfer of

from Porto to Liverpool headlining

football transfer news

in the last January, but Porto had a perfect replacement in their mind for the Colombian winger, their former winger, Wenderson Galeno.

Born in Barra do Corda, Maranhão, Galeno joined Trindade Atlético Clube and made his senior debut on 10 February 2016, scoring a brace against Atlética Anapolina. Being named the Best Newcomer of the competition, Galeno finished the 2016 Campeonato Goiano with five goals in ten appearances. Gaining a deal with Brazilian giants Gremio before being immediately loaned to Porto B.

The following 16 May, after scoring 11 goals for the B's, Porto made Galeno’s contract permanent for a €1.50m fee, signing a five-year deal with a €40 million release clause. However, being out of pecking orders, he spent the next two seasons on loan at Portimonense and Rio Ave before joining Braga on a five-year deal in August 2019 for a reported €3.50m fee.

He contributed 9 goals and 11 assists during his one-year loan spell at Rio Ave in a total of 36 appearances before attracting the interest of Braga, where he scored 24 goals and provided 25 assists in 115 appearances across two and a half seasons, gaining a €9m move back to Porto to refill the void left by the transfer of Luis Diaz to Liverpool.

Galeno is a prolific dribbler, clocking in with 10.19 dribbles per 90 last season, the most of any player in the league with over 1000 minutes. he is a risk-taker, constantly wishing to drive his team forward and providing an almost constant threat to the opposition. Galeno also led the league in progressive runs, with 3.9 per 90, demonstrating the ability to progress the ball towards the opposition goal more often than most. Despite some obvious shortcomings in his positional game, as well as being little more than a hologram in the defensive phase, Galeno is a supremely talented player with high potential.

 Following his move to Porto, a team that dominates possession and faces deep, compact defenses, then he will need to fine-tune his game a great deal. He would need to develop his game in between the lines, and learn to hold his position more in advanced positions rather than dropping out of the defensive block to receive the ball.

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