Serie A’s January Transfer Window: Young Talents to Reemerge, Strategic Exchanges, and New Faces
On 2 February at 20:00, the 2026 winter transfer window will officially come to an end. It’s a short period, but often vital for helping teams get back on track, filling gaps, and keeping ambitions alive. With just 72 hours to go, Serie A Enilive clubs are busy addressing several of their needs: some are looking for immediate impact, others are planning for the future, and some are taking advantage of last-minute opportunities.
After the initial round of signings, among the most notable being Malen, Fullkrug, and Raspadori, it’s now time for signings that address a very specific need, whether it be young players to relaunch, functional swaps, or additions to suit a team’s system. Here’s a recap of the main moves made by each team in the final phase of the winter transfer market.
A Biancoceleste Opportunity for Daniel Maldini
At 24, Daniel Maldini is ready for a new and exciting opportunity in Serie A. His move to Lazio marks a turning point for the young player, coming off a quiet first half of the season at Atalanta: only nine league appearances with just one as a starter.
After his breakthrough at Monza in the second half of 2023/24, he struggled to stay consistent in Bergamo under Gasperini and Palladino, who had previously praised his qualities in Brianza. However, The flair and ability that once shone at Brianteo remain, and Lazio is determined to restore them.
Maldini joins Lazio as a versatile attacking option: he can play as a winger in the front three, as a backup to Zaccagni, but most importantly,he will be tried out as a central striker, a role Sarri is increasingly committed to. The environment and tactical system appear well suited to reignite the creativity of an upcoming Italian talent.
New faces at the Tardini: Nicolussi Caviglia and Carboni
Parma have made two functional signings. Hans Nicolussi Caviglia is looking to prove himself after a difficult spell at Fiorentina. He began as first-choice under Pioli but lost ground after the change in management, eventually staying on the bench. Cuesta aims to bring out the potential he once showed at Venezia, where under Di Francesco he was a technical and charismatic leader in the survival battle. In Venice, he stood out for his strong left-foot with four goals and three assists, including some spectacular free-kicks. With Keita well-established, the former Viola can play alongside him, allowing Bernabé to move into more advanced midfield zones.
Franco Carboni has also joined Parma, marking his return to Serie A after brief spells at Monza and Venezia. A left-back capable of surging up and down the flank, he spent the first part of the season in Serie B with Empoli, making 17 appearances and finding consistency.
Genoa on a Roll with Baldanzi, Amorim, and Bijlow
Genoa is one of the most active clubs in this winter window, pursuing signings that serve both current ambitions and future goals.
The signing that currently stands out is Tommaso Baldanzi, a player who rose through the ranks of Empoli’s youth system. Tommaso won the Primavera championship and scored six Serie A goals with Empli before moving to Roma. However, settling in at Trigoria proved more complicated than expected: no goals in his first season and a total of just three goals in 63 appearances across all competitions. These numbers don’t reflect the talent of the 2003-born attacking midfielder, who is now aiming to relaunch his career under De Rossi, a coach with a strong offensive approach, determined to give opportunities to forwards who had been sidelined under previous management.
Genoa has also carefully invested in Alexsandro Amorim, a 2005-born Brazilian midfielder signed as a long-term investment. More of a mezzala or attacking midfielder than a playmaker, Amorim has unique off-the-ball intelligence, dribbling ability, and ability to make late runs into the box, with clear potential to grow, especially in terms of striking. After two goals in 19 appearances for Alverca in Portugal’s top division, he brings a professional record of nine goals and four assists across Brazil and Portugal.
the Rossoblù give a new opportunity to Justin Bijlow, a new goalkeeper. Born in 1998 and a former Feyenoord icon with 152 appearances, 54 clean sheets, and an Eredivisie title in 2023, the Dutch goalkeeper returns to Liguria after a knee injury in 2025 relegated him to a backup role. De Rossi immediately put him to the test against Bologna, reflecting the close competition with Leali for a starting spot.
Nils Zätterström currently rounds off Genoa’s defence. He is a 2005-born left-footed Swedish defender from Sheffield United but has only played in England briefly, after moving from Malmo. Nils has already represented the Swedish senior national team, and is a young talent designed to strengthen and revive Genoa’s backline.
Lecce: Reinforcements for the Survival Battle
Lecce has taken decisive steps to reinforce their squad.
Walid Cheddira joins their attack to fight for the striker spot with Stulic following Camarda’s serious shoulder injury. Coming off a season as Pinamonti’s understudy at Sassuolo, Cheddira is back under Eusebio Di Francesco, the coach who brought out his best at Frosinone, finishing that season with seven Serie A goals. The aim is for him to regain consistency after managing just two goals over the past year and a half between Espanyol and Sassuolo.
Defensively, Lecce’s newest addition is Sadik Fofana, a 2003-born player from Togo, born in Germany. Trained in Bayer Leverkusen’s youth system, he developed between Austria’s second division and Bundesliga with Grazer AK, where he played regularly. Originally a central defender, in Austria he played consistently as a defensive midfielder, bringing versatility and a creative approach to his role.
Bologna and Fiorentina Exchange: Stability for One Side, Goals on the Other
Along the Via degli Dei, the route through the Apennines connecting the two art cities of Bologna and Florence, an exchange takes place, one that suits both teams’ current needs. Bologna and Fiorentina have agreed on a cross transfer involving Giovanni Fabbian and Simon Sohm, a move driven by their respective season objectives. Bologna, under Italiano, have recorded just one win in their last ten league matches, and are looking for more stability. The arrival of Sohm, a midfielder known for his defensive positioning and ball distribution, fits this strategy. The Swiss player comes off a spell at Fiorentina, having made 16 appearances, never quite finding his ideal role.
On the other side, Fiorentina rely on Fabbian’s attacking instincts. Vanoli is looking for decisive goals to fuel the survival fight, and the 2003-born midfielder is ideal: a pure box-to-box midfielder, capable of timing his runs and attacking the area aggressively. In Serie A, he has already scored ten goals for Bologna and immediately made an impact in Florence with an assist on his Coppa Italia Frecciarossa debut.
Fiorentina have further reinforced themselves by adding another player: Jack Harrison. Born in Stoke in 1996, the English winger has taken an untraditional path, moving to the United States to shine in MLS with New York City FC before returning home. His breakthrough came with Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa, where he found the perfect stage to perform at his best, even scoring Leeds’ first goal back in the Premier League after an 18-year absence.
Harrison, the adaptable right winger, has played several attacking roles, recording 34 goals and 32 assists in 210 appearances for Leeds. After two inconsistent seasons at Everton, he joins Fiorentina aiming to relaunch his career while bringing international experience, depth, and more offensive options.
Sardinia Returns “Charrúa”: Albarracín to Cagliari
Cagliari continues to invest in young talents while renewing its historic link with Uruguay. Their latest addition is Agustín Albarracín, a 2005-born winger from Boston River. Naturally left-footed, he closed out the most recent season in Uruguay with seven goals and one assist in 15 appearances, totaling 13 goals and two assists in 77 professional matches.
With his arrival, Cagliari continues a tradition spanning over forty years, bringing Charrúa players who became club symbols, such as Francescoli, Dario Silva, Diego López, Godín, Cáceres, and Nández. Today, the connection between South American talent and Rossoblù identity continues, this time as a future reinforcement.
Other Deals: Specific Reinforcements and Experienced Signings
Pisa continues strengthening their attack, welcoming Filip Stojilković after Durosinmi. The 1999-born Swiss forward joins from KS Cracovia, where he scored seven goals and provided three assists in 18 appearances in the Polish league. He is a versatile and agile striker, coming to Serie A after a career in Germany and Switzerland’s second divisions and a three-year stint in the Swiss top flight with Sion, scoring 17 goals in 64 matches, including sharing a dressing room with Mario Balotelli.
On the right wing, Hellas Verona relies on the experience of Pol Lirola, brought in from Olympique Marseille. The Catalan full-back knows Serie A well, having played for Sassuolo, Fiorentina, and Frosinone: 155 league appearances with four goals and 15 assists. Ambidextrous and hungry to attack, Lirola has been immediately positioned by Paolo Zanetti in the midfield four, a mark of trust and a potentially pivotal role in Verona’s survival battle.
From Parma to Cremonese, Milan Djuric changes club colours but stays in Serie A as an attacking alternative. Ahead of him, the Bonazzoli-Vardy partnership establishes a clear pecking order, but the Bosnian’s physicality and experience remain invaluable, particularly as an in-game option.
Giovane’s arrival at Napoli is already big news. Following Neres’ long-term absence, the 2003-born Brazilian will have the chance to establish himself in Antonio Conte’s system, where his strong left foot and flexibility between second striker and right wing will be appreciated. It’s a real turning point: having arrived quietly from Corinthians, Giovane was one of Hellas Verona’s key players in first half of the season, dazzling at Bentegodi with a creative and carefree Carioca style. Three goals and four assists under Zanetti confirmed his potential. It’s now time for his next move: playing in Napoli and facing the toughest test of his young career, Antonio Conte’s intense and rigorous methods.
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