January 26, 2026 – A Leagues

As the January transfer window approaches its climax and leagues across the globe navigate crucial mid-season fixtures, today, January 26, 2026, brings a fresh wave of significant results and intriguing transfer developments. From a thrilling Premier League upset to pivotal victories in La Liga and Serie A, coupled with high-profile moves shaping the European landscape, the football world remains abuzz with activity. This daily briefing provides a comprehensive overview of the most impactful events from the last round of matches and the biggest transfer headlines dominating top clubs.

European Giants Deliver Drama and Dominance

Premier League: Manchester United Stuns Arsenal in Five-Goal Thriller

The most significant match result from the last round in the Premier League saw Manchester United secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2026. This pulsating encounter significantly impacted the title race, as Arsenal, who entered the match with a chance to extend their lead, suffered their first home defeat of the season.

The game exploded into life when Arsenal took the lead in the 29th minute through an unfortunate Lisandro Martinez own goal. However, a defensive error by Martin Zubimendi allowed Bryan Mbeumo to equalize for Manchester United in the 37th minute, sending the teams into halftime level. The second half continued with relentless intensity. United surged ahead in the 50th minute when Patrick Dorgu unleashed a ferocious shot that rocketed in off the crossbar. Arsenal responded through substitute Mikel Merino, who prodded home an equalizer in the 84th minute, seemingly salvaging a point for the Gunners. Yet, Manchester United had the final say, with Matheus Cunha curling a stunning strike from outside the area just three minutes later, securing all three points for the Red Devils. This result leaves Arsenal on 50 points from 23 games, while Manchester City and Aston Villa trail closely with 46 points, intensifying the competition at the top of the table.

Premier League: Manchester United Stuns Arsenal in Five-Goal Thriller

La Liga: Barcelona Regains Top Spot, Atlético Madrid Climbs

In Spain, Barcelona asserted their dominance with a comfortable 3-0 victory over last-place Real Oviedo at a rain-drenched Camp Nou on January 25, 2026. The Catalan giants struggled to break down a spirited Oviedo defense in the first half but found their rhythm after the break. Dani Olmo opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Five minutes later, Raphinha doubled the lead after another defensive mistake by Oviedo. The highlight of the match came in the 73rd minute when Lamine Yamal scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick from inside the penalty area, marking his eighth La Liga goal of the season and earning a loud ovation from the home crowd upon his substitution. This victory propelled Barcelona to 52 points, one point ahead of Real Madrid, who had secured a 2-0 win against Villarreal the previous day.

Elsewhere in La Liga, Atlético Madrid also had a strong showing, easing past Mallorca with a 3-0 win on January 25, 2026, climbing to third place in the league standings. Alexander Sorloth put the hosts ahead with his fourth goal of the year in the 22nd minute. Atlético’s second goal came from an unfortunate own goal by Osasuna defender David López in the 75th minute, followed by a third goal from Marcos Llorente. This marked the first time in six matches this year that Diego Simeone’s side scored more than one goal, moving them three points clear of Villarreal.

Serie A: Atalanta’s Resounding Win, Milan Held by Roma

In Italy, Atalanta delivered a commanding 4-0 performance against Parma on January 25, 2026, at the Gewiss Stadium. New signing Giacomo Raspadori scored on his full debut, signaling a promising future for the forward. The other goals came from Gianluca Scamacca, who converted a penalty, Marten de Roon, and Nikola Krstovic. This victory was a crucial bounce-back for Atalanta, who had faced recent setbacks in both Serie A and the Champions League.

Meanwhile, AC Milan’s title aspirations suffered a minor blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by AS Roma in a rain-soaked encounter in the capital on January 25, 2026. Koni De Winter scored for AC Milan, but Roma managed to hold on for a point. This result allowed Inter Milan to extend their lead at the top of the Serie A standings to five points, following their impressive 6-2 comeback win against Pisa on Friday. Milan now sits on 47 points, with Roma in third on 43 points, level with Napoli.

Transfer Market Heats Up Across Leagues

The January transfer window continues to provide significant movements, with several high-profile deals confirmed and major rumors circulating among Europe’s elite clubs.

Premier League Transfer Buzz

The Premier League has seen some notable confirmed deals in the past few days. Manchester City completed the signing of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for a reported fee of £20 million. This move sees the highly-rated defender join the reigning champions. Tottenham Hotspur has been active, signing Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for £34.6 million and left-back Souza from Santos. In another significant English top-flight move, Brennan Johnson made a £35 million transfer from Tottenham to Crystal Palace. Additionally, Antoine Semenyo completed a move from Bournemouth to Manchester City for a substantial £65 million, activating his widely known buy-out clause. This flurry of activity highlights clubs’ intent to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season.

La Liga & Serie A Transfer Updates

In La Liga, Thiago Almada’s commitment to Atletico Madrid is currently a prominent transfer rumor, suggesting the club is working to solidify its roster. Meanwhile, Barcelona is reported to have submitted an official contract offer to Fermín López until 2031.

Serie A has also witnessed some interesting player movements. Giovane has joined Napoli from Verona, and Lorenzo Venturino has moved to Roma from Genoa. AC Milan has secured the services of Niclas Füllkrug on loan. Roma further bolstered their squad with the £19 million acquisition of Robinio Vaz from Marseille. Atalanta, fresh off their big win, also brought in Giacomo Raspadori from Atletico Madrid for £19 million, a move that has already seen immediate returns with his debut goal.

Bundesliga & A-League Transfer Developments

The Bundesliga’s transfer market has seen Pascal Gross transfer to Borussia Dortmund. Bayern Munich is reportedly on the lookout for an “ex-Bundesliga star” to reinforce their defense, indicating potential high-profile activity for the Bavarian giants. Meanwhile, Leonardo Bittencourt has confirmed he will be departing Werder Bremen at the end of the season, marking the end of a significant chapter for the 32-year-old midfielder.

In Australia’s A-League, Kai Trewin has made a confirmed move to New York City, representing a significant departure for Melbourne City. Other notable A-League transfers include Mitch Duke’s free transfer to Machida Zelvia and Mikael Doka’s free transfer to Operário PR.

Asian Football Leagues: Limited Recent Information

Information regarding the most significant match results and biggest transfer rumors or confirmed deals for the Thai League, Indonesia League, Philippine League, and Malaysia League for January 25-26, 2026, remains limited in prominent English-language football news sources. While some A-League matches were scheduled, conclusive results for the most recent round (Jan 25/26) were not widely reported at the time of this update.

For the Philippine Football League, recent results found are from earlier in January (Jan 17-18). The football transfer market in these regions typically sees less international media coverage compared to the major European leagues. Similarly, for the V. League (Vietnam), while there’s an overview of Winter 2026 transfers, specific high-profile deals dominating headlines for January 25-26, 2026, were not readily available.

Fans of these leagues are encouraged to consult local sports news outlets for the most up-to-date and comprehensive coverage.

The football world has been buzzing over the last seven days, from January 19th to January 26th, 2026, with significant transfer movements across Europe’s top leagues, surprising results, and crucial developments in continental competitions. As the January transfer window approaches its climax, clubs are making decisive moves to bolster their squads, while on the pitch, major upsets have sent shockwaves through the Bundesliga, and African powerhouses have asserted their dominance.

FIFA & European Football: World Cup Preparations and Transfer Frenzy

The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 26™ continues, with just 500 days remaining until the tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City. The 23rd edition of the World Cup will be historic, featuring an expanded format of 48 teams hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the final scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A FIFA World Cup 2026 Subcommittee meeting took place on January 19, 2026, in Toronto, addressing logistical updates including community benefits, budget, and a non-competitive contract for temporary network expansion at Toronto Stadium. While no major controversies or pivotal decisions beyond logistical planning emerged, the anticipation for this expanded tournament, potentially featuring stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their final World Cups, is steadily building.

Across Europe, the January transfer window has been a whirlwind of activity, with numerous significant deals materializing. Clubs in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga have been active, making strategic signings and offloading players. This period has seen substantial financial outlays as teams aim to strengthen for the latter half of their respective seasons, whether to push for titles, secure European qualification, or avoid relegation battles.

Premier League: Blockbuster Transfers and Matchday 23 Action

The Premier League has been at the forefront of the transfer market, witnessing several high-profile moves in the past week. Manchester City made a significant statement by signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a reported £65 million, a deal that reportedly activated a buy-out clause. Tottenham Hotspur were also busy, acquiring Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for £34.6 million, a move that followed the departure of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35 million. Other notable transfers include Marc Guehi joining Manchester City, and Arsenal’s young talent Ethan Nwaneri moving to Marseille on a loan deal.

Matchday 23 saw some intriguing results. On January 24, West Ham United defeated Sunderland 3-1, and Fulham secured a 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Manchester City continued their strong form with a 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, featuring goals from O. Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo. Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur played out a 2-2 draw, with Tottenham’s Cristian Romero scoring a late equalizer. Other results from January 25 saw Crystal Palace beat Chelsea 1-0 at Selhurst Park, while Arsenal and Manchester United played to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates. Newcastle United secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, and Brentford defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1. On January 26, Everton claimed a crucial 1-0 win against Leeds United.

On the injury front, Jack Grealish of Manchester City is reportedly dealing with a foot fracture, while Joelinton of Newcastle United picked up an injury against Aston Villa. Young talent Bergvall also underwent ankle surgery, adding to the list of concerns for Premier League clubs.

La Liga: Ronaldo’s Potential Venture and Contract Sagas

In La Liga, the headlines have been dominated not just by on-field action but also by the intriguing prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo‘s post-retirement plans. Reports suggest the Portuguese superstar is considering a venture into club ownership in Spain, with Valencia CF and Getafe being eyed as potential targets for his ambitious business project. This development has sparked considerable discussion about the future landscape of Spanish football.

On the player front, Barcelona finds itself at a crossroads with two key players, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen. Both are in the final six months of their contracts and are reportedly open to talks with other clubs. Christensen’s situation is further complicated by a partial ACL tear, which is expected to sideline him for at least four months.

Matchday 21 saw several important fixtures. On January 25, Real Madrid secured a vital 2-0 victory over Villarreal, maintaining pressure at the top of the table. Barcelona, on January 26, managed a hard-fought 1-0 win against Real Oviedo. Getafe suffered a 2-1 defeat at Girona on the same day, while Real Sociedad played out a 1-1 draw at home against Celta Vigo. Real Madrid also had a strong showing in the Champions League earlier in the week, routing Monaco 6-1. In a somber note, La Liga announced it would hold a minute of silence before all weekend matches in memory of the victims of two deadly train accidents in Spain, with Getafe player David Cordón’s father among the casualties of the first incident.

Serie A: Como’s Rise and Injury Concerns Mount

Serie A delivered some compelling results and continued to see significant transfer activity. On January 19, teenage sensation Paz scored a brace to lead Como to an impressive 3-0 away victory over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. This win marked Como’s third consecutive away triumph and solidified their position in the top six, further dimming Lazio’s hopes for European qualification. Elsewhere, AS Roma secured a decisive 2-0 win against Torino, with Dutch forward Donyell Malen scoring on his debut and Paulo Dybala also finding the net. AC Milan also secured a narrow 1-0 victory, continuing their strong league form.

In transfer news, Napoli acquired forward Giovane from Verona for £17.4 million on January 25. AC Milan saw German international striker Niclas Füllkrug join on loan from West Ham, making his debut on January 2. Donyell Malen’s move to AS Roma for £21.6 million was also a notable acquisition.

However, the league is grappling with a growing list of injuries. Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu is recovering from calf problems, with an expected return by January 31. Napoli is particularly hit, with Frank Anguissa (hamstring) and David Neres (ankle) both targeting a January 27 return. Bologna’s Federico Bernardeschi (broken collarbone) and Fiorentina’s Moise Kean (ankle problems) are also expected back around the same time [cite: 8 in previous search]. AC Milan has been plagued by injuries, reportedly experiencing 23 injuries in 25 games this season, highlighting a significant challenge for the club [cite: 29 in previous search].

A proposed “risky” plan to play a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como in Australia due to San Siro’s unavailability (for the 2026 Winter Olympics) was ultimately deemed not viable.

Bundesliga: Bayern Stunned, Leverkusen Maintains Pace, and Injury Woes

The Bundesliga witnessed a major upset on Matchday 19, as reigning champions Bayern Munich suffered a surprising 1-2 defeat at home to FC Augsburg on January 24. Augsburg’s goals came from Hiroki Ito, Arthur Chaves, and Han-Noah Massengo, handing Bayern their first league defeat in some time and allowing their rivals to close the gap at the top [cite: 3, 20 in previous search]. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen capitalized on Bayern’s slip, securing a crucial 1-0 victory over SV Werder Bremen, with Lucas Vázquez scoring the decisive goal. Other results from January 24-25 included a 0-0 draw between St. Pauli and Hamburger SV, and SC Freiburg’s 2-1 win over 1. FC Köln, where Matanović was on target [cite: 3, 12, 37 in previous search].

Bayern Munich, despite their strong start to the season, are grappling with a growing injury crisis, particularly in defense and midfield. Konrad Laimer is expected to miss a month with a muscle injury, while Josip Stanisic is sidelined for approximately three weeks due to ankle ligament damage. Midfield maestro Joshua Kimmich is also recovering from an ankle injury, and Sacha Boey is out with illness [cite: 16 in previous search, 33 in previous search]. Long-term absentees like Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, and Jamal Musiala further compound Kompany’s selection headaches [cite: 27 in previous search]. Eintracht Frankfurt also confirmed that winter signing Younes Ebnoutalib will be out for 4-6 weeks with a knee ligament tear [cite: 16 in previous search].

In transfer news, Borussia Dortmund reportedly triggered an option to recall Anselmino on January 25, while Pascal Gross made a return to Brighton [cite: 13, 37 in previous search].

Africa: CAF Champions League Group Stage Heats Up, AFCON Postponed

The CAF Champions League Group Stage intensified over the last week with Matchday 3 fixtures taking place from January 23-25, 2026. Egyptian giants Al Ahly secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Young Africans of Tanzania, with Trezeguet netting both goals to send Al Ahly to the top of Group B [cite: 10 in previous search, 10]. In another notable match, South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns played out an exciting 2-2 draw against Al-Hilal Omdurman of Sudan [cite: 10 in previous search, 10]. Moroccan club Wydad AC also claimed a vital 1-0 victory over AS Maniema Union, reaffirming their status as a continental contender [cite: 1 in previous search]. CAF also unveiled a new official match ball for its interclub competitions.

A significant development in African football is the official postponement of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to December 2025 and January 2026. This decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was made to avoid a direct clash with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for the summer of 2025, highlighting the increasing pressure of a congested international football calendar.

Asia: AFC Champions League Elite Continues

The AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 league stage is currently underway, having commenced in September 2025 and scheduled to run until February 2026. While the competition is ongoing, specific detailed match results for the period of January 19-26, 2026, were not widely reported in the readily available public domain. Clubs across Asia continue their campaigns in this premier continental club competition, with teams vying for advancement to the knockout stages. Earlier in the month, on January 4, Ulsan HD announced the departures of Korea Republic international Jung Woo-young and Swedish midfielder Gustav Ludwigson.