The January transfer window in football is always one of the most exciting times for fans, and this year's edition has been no exception. The La Liga (Spain's premier league) has seen some major movements over the past week, with several clubs looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the second half of the season.
One of the biggest names to arrive at a club was Barcelona defender Sergi Roberto. The Brazilian international joined the Catalan giants from Roma on loan until the end of the season, with an option to make the move permanent in the summer. This move comes as a result of injuries suffered by Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba, who have both been ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
Another significant signing was made by Real Madrid, as they signed up Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos from Arsenal for a fee reported to be around €50 million. The 22-year-old had struggled to break into the Gunners' first team under Unai Emery, but his versatility and technical ability could see him become a key player for Los Blancos in the coming years.
Atletico Madrid also had a busy period, with several players leaving the club. They sold goalkeeper Jan Oblak to Atletico de Madrid for €45 million, while fellow goalkeeper Koke moved to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. Meanwhile, forward Antoine Griezmann returned to his former club, Barcelona, after spending three seasons at Atletico.
In addition to these signings, there were also some high-profile departures. Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku left the club for Inter Milan for a reported fee of €78 million, while former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from professional football aged 36.
Overall, the January transfer window in La Liga has been filled with plenty of excitement and drama, with many clubs looking to improve their squads before the second half of the season kicks off. With so much talent moving between clubs, it will be interesting to see how the competition unfolds in the coming weeks and months.