Top five African transfers of the January window

Victor Moses to Fenerbahce: Maurizio Sarri decided that Moses had no part to play in his Chelsea rebuild and promptly sidelined the right-sider. Moses had been a key part of the side that won the Premier League in 2016-17, but managed just two substitute appearances in the top flight this term. Fener are enduring a miserable campaign, and are currently only two points off the relegation zone. However, they remain a massive club, and this loan should help Moses get his career back on track. He should help his new employers pull away from the bottom three.

Abdul Rahman Baba’s loan to Stade de Reims suits all parties. The talented left-back has returned to fitness after two years of injury misery, but he wasn’t getting ample gametime on loan at Schalke. With both player and parent club—Chelsea—worried about potential stagnation, the 24-year-old needed to freshen things up. Reims represent an ideal destination, even if Baba will have to adapt to a new league and country, and even if he’ll never become the player he might have been, he could be an x factor in his new club’s push for continental football.

Allan Kateregga has only demonstrated his quality in flashes since arriving in the PSL with Cape Town City from AFC Leopards midway through last term. Latterly, he’s been out of the first-team picture, with Benni McCarthy preferring other options to the ‘Dancing Rasta’. A move in January was inevitable, and a switch to Maritzburg United suits all parties. The Team of Choice need some thing fresh in the attacking third as they look to beat the drop, while Kateregga now has the opportunity to improve his fitness and sharpness ahead of Uganda’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Kevin-Prince Boateng is another Ghana international on the move, with the box-to-box midfielder the subject of one of the more fascinating transfers of the window. Barcelona had been searching for a back-up striker for Luis Suarez, and with Alvaro Morata, Cristhian Stuani and Carlos Vela not viable options, they turned to Prince. He’s adapted well to life as an unorthodox leading man with Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sassuolo, and this underrated talented deserves another shot with one of the world’s biggest clubs. Expect Boateng’s quality and personality to shine through in Catalonia.

John Obi Mikel: Even though he’s just coming off the back of two years in China, with Tianjin TEDA, Mikel still has much to offer and represents a major coup for Championship heavyweights Middlesbrough. He’s only moved to the North East on a short-term deal, but will help Tony Pulis’s side’s promotion push. Mikel’s experience of top-end competition following his time with Chelsea will make the 31-year-old a major asset in the second tier, while the coming months should help the midfielder’s sharpness ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.