Cherries choose long term over quick fixes in transfer window

Bournemouth prioritised their long-term strategy over short-term need in the January transfer window.

An, at times, 11-strong injury crisis - including the loss of strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal within days of each other in January - could have forced the club into the market.

A striker option was explored but Evanilson is due back soon from a fractured foot - though Unal is expected to be out until at least the start of next season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Justin Kluivert and Dango Outtarra have also both recently scored hat-tricks as manager Andoni Iraola has impressively adjusted to the injury crisis without impacting the team's form.

The players Bournemouth have signed are part of the long-term strategy for the club, including defender Julio Soler and forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who are anticipated to have substantial roles in the first team in 2025-26.

Soler is away with Argentina Under-20s at the South American Championship and Kroupi has rejoined promotion-chasing Lorient on loan in France's second tier - a club linked to Bournemouth through Bill Foley's ownership.

Signing Kroupi, in particular, was important as Bournemouth sources believe other big clubs from around Europe tried to get him before the January deadline, with Chelsea, West Ham and Lyon all linked with a move.

There is also excitement about young signings Zain Silcott-Duberry, a 19-year-old winger signed out of Chelsea's academy, and 18-year-old defender Matai Akinmboni, brought in from Major League Soccer's DC United.

The progress of young first-team players like Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Alex Scott and Illia Zabarnyi is not only a blueprint for Bournemouth's transfer chiefs to keep emulating, but can act as an example to talent across the world that the club is a good place to develop.