FEATURES

The 2026 winter window closed on Monday, with Jorgen Strand Larsen's £48 million move from Wolves to Crystal Palace the biggest deal done on deadline day. Truth be told, though, it was a pretty tame end to what's been a fairly quiet month in the transfer market. Indeed, aside from Manchester City, most of Europe's top teams did next-to-no mid-season business, while there was very little movement at all in France, Germany or Spain - which wasn't that surprising, given January is traditionally a tough time to find good value for money.

Famously, the January transfer window is the more difficult of the two to operate in. It's hard to persuade other clubs to give up assets mid-season, sometimes even harder to convince players that they're better off making a move immediately rather than waiting until the following summer. But that doesn't mean deals are impossible, or that you can't get good value for your buck.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s podcast and feature series that counts down to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. This week, we dive into Saudi Arabia’s journey: from Saeed Al-Owairan’s unforgettable, Diego Maradona-like run in 1994, to that stunning night in Qatar when the Green Falcons humbled Lionel Messi and Argentina. This is a story of belief, resilience and a legacy that never dies...

With the World Cup just months away, GOAL looks at how the Canada squad might look in the summer.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers among American stars from the January window.

January is a notoriously bad time for buyers because nobody ever wants to sell top talent midway through the season. There are, however, exceptions to the rule. Some clubs need to raise funds to balance the books, while others can be left with not option but to unload an unhappy player who has made it clear that he wants to join a stronger side.

Wearing the USWNT armband for the first time, Trinity Rodman discusses how she views leadership after captaining the U.S. vs Paraguay.

GOAL spoke with the American in January to reflect on a whirlwind 2025 as he prepares for an even bigger 2026

GOAL breaks down top USWNT performances abroad, with Coffey shining for Manchester City and Fox lifting silverware at Arsenal.

With Arsenal steaming ahead in the Premier League title race from the off while Manchester City stumbled, the one thing Pep Guardiola's side could cling on to was their capacity for a strong finish. City have a remarkable history of reeling in their title rivals in when it matters most by going on what became their trademark relentless runs. But one month into 2026, there is little evidence of that happening this time around.

Liverpool need new defenders; that's no secret. Club captain Virgil van Dijk is past his peak, the future of prospective free agent Ibrahima Konate remains up in the air and a spate of injuries have limited Arne Slot's options this season. Help is on the way, though not until the summer at the earliest, with the Reds having agreed a deal to sign French sensation Jeremy Jacquet.

Chelsea's 2024-25 Women's Super League season was an all-timer. Undefeated through 22 games - the first team ever to achieve that in the competition's history - while also registering a record points return of 60, the Blues ascended to unprecedented levels of dominance in their first year under new head coach Sonia Bompastor. What has gone wrong, then, that means the six-time defending champions are on the brink of relinquishing their crown less than a year later?

After all the drama provided by the Champions League in midweek, domestic action returned over the weekend, and it did not disappoint. Title races and battles to earn European spots are heating up around the continent, with there plenty of twists and turns still to come over the next three-and-a-half months.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

Alexia Putellas has always strived for greatness. As a legendary champion with Barcelona and Spain, and one of the most decorated female players of all time, the iconic midfielder has always set impeccable standards on the pitch, empowering athletes to become role models for younger generations. For club or country, ‘La Reina’ has built a legacy through her vision, control and versatility, thriving as a creative force while driving unprecedented growth in the women’s game.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including McKennie scoring, again, for Juventus in an important victory.

Arsenal became the first-ever winners of the FIFA Women's Champions Cup as Caitlin Foord struck an extra-time winner to seal a 3-2 victory against a resilient Corinthians side. The Gunners led twice in normal time through Olivia Smith and Lotte Wubben-Moy, before a last-gasp penalty conceded by Katie McCabe saw Vic Albuquerque draw the Brazilian champions level. But Foord had the final say for Renee Slegers' victorious Gunners, who saw goalkeeper Anneke Borbe stretchered off in worrying scenes just before full-time.