Winter transfer window history: Sporting’s hits and misses | OneFootball

The winter market has been, over the past few years, a space of risk and opportunity for Sporting. January signings often emerge to address immediate needs, fill absences, or correct flaws identified in the first half of the season. Some of these bets have left a deep mark on the Club's history, while others fell far short of expectations.

Among the success stories are César Prates and André Cruz. The Brazilian players arrived simultaneously in January 2000, and were crucial in winning the National Championship that season, helping to end a long drought, and in the Portuguese League title of 2001/2002.

More recently, there were Sebastián Coates and Paulinho, recently crowned Mexican champion. The Uruguayan central defender arrived in 2015/2016 and became one of the players with the most titles and matches for the lions. The Portuguese forward was acquired in January 2021, did not have an easy start, but played an important role in winning the 2023/2024 championship.

However, not all January bets had the same outcome. Koke arrived in 2006, promised a lot, but did not deliver. Rúben Ribeiro, signed in 2018, stayed only half a season, while Shikabala, recruited in January 2014, played only one game in green and white and left through the back door.

Seba Ribas and Florent Sinama-Pongolle complete the list of winter signings that did not meet expectations. The Uruguayan forward played only seven games for the main team after arriving in 2012, while Sinama-Pongolle, signed in 2009 for 6.5 million euros, scored only one goal in eight matches.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.