While this January transfer window might not have been quite the blockbuster some expected, there are still plenty of fresh African faces to look forward to across major leagues in Europe and beyond.
England
English football is fast becoming the most preferred destination for Africans as the just ended January transfer window registered quite a number of stars from the continent.
Giannelli Imbula (Stoke City/Congo)
The most expensive African signing this January was Giannelli Imbula, who joined Stoke City from FC Porto for a fee of £18.3million. The defensive midfielder, tipped as the next Makelele, is eligible to play for both France and Congo and would be one player to look out for in the English Premier League.
Oumar Niasse (Everton/Senegal)
Another new face from Africa who made the move was Oumar Niasse of Senegal, who moved from Lokomotiv Moscow to Everton for £13.5million. The Senegalese striker has scored 12 goals in the Russian league this season before his move to England. Blessed with pace and strength, Niasse would offer an alternative for Roberto Martinez's side as they fight for a spot in European football.
Wahbi Khazri (Sunderland/Tunisia)
Wahbi Khazri, the Tunisia play maker before his move to Sunderland, created the second most goals in the French Ligue 1 for Bordeaux. His deal was worth £8million, and considering his league 1 stats, the Tunisian appears a bargain as he would offer more creativity for Sam Allardyce's side who are fighting fervently to avoid relegation.
Increased passing options in midfield should open up more opportunities for the relegation-threatened Black Cats. Beside his assist record which is only second to Angel di Maria in the French top flight so far, Khazri also has an eye for goal and could relief the scoring burden on Jemaine Defoe.
Seydou Doumbia (Newcastle United/Cote d'ivoire)
The Ivoirian striker has Newcastle United on loan from AS Roma and is expected to help Steve Mclaren team solve their goal scoring problems.
It's not been quite so easy for Doumbia though, with the powerful forward flitting between CSKA Moscow and Roma after failed transfers and loans in both directions. His strike-rate is still pretty good, which is just what Steve McClaren needs, and he should have no problem fighting off Premier League defenders.
Emmanuel Emenike (West Ham/Nigeria)
Another beefy option up top-- Emenike, gives West Ham another choice upfront and one that will thrive in the physical environment the Premier League offers.
The fact he spent the last half a season with Arabian Gulf League side Al-Ain isn't too promising but Manuel Lanzini has been a hit since arriving from the Middle East, so why not Emenike?
The Nigeria forward would have to fight for a place in the West Ham team with Ener Valencia and Diafra Sakho, in the Hammers bid to earn a spot in Europe. With assists from Dimitri Payet assured, Emenike should be a success for the London club.
Lamine Kone (Sunderland/ Cote d'ivoire)
Considered a no nonsense defender, Lamine Kone is expected to help Sunderland seal its leaking defense as the Black Cats look to escape another relegation. His move from Lorient cost Sunderland £6million and for a defender, the fee is quite huge.
The Premier League might offer something of a cultural shock to a defender used to playing in front of around 10,000 fans but his manager reckons he is ready for 'the greatest challenge he's ever faced.'
Lamine has already hit the ground running, even though his first match was a defeat to Manchester City, the defender showed he deserves to start regularly for relegation threatened Sunderland.
Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal/Egypt) Mohamed Elneny, the Egyptian, joined Arsenal from FC Basel for a reported fee of £5.5million. The gunners in recent seasons have longed for a box to box defensive midfielder, but with the purchase of Elneny who will have to battle with Francis Conquelin for a place in Arsene Wenger's team, the north London club can now be assured of options in the defensive midfield position.
He will essentially be useful in Arsenal's bid for the EPL title which has long eluded them for more than a decade now and his first game for the Gunners in the FA Cup last weekend showed there is something special in him.
Emmanuel Adebayor (Crystal Palace/Togo)
Call him controversial, but Emmanuel Adebayor has seen it all in football. He is no stranger to English football either, and with the current striker crisis at Crystal Palace, the Togo international could become the goal machine that Allan Pardew is looking for.
Also, considering the fact that Adebayor was signed as a free agent, he could prove a bargain. He would also have a point to prove that he can still play at the highest level and is not only after the money.
Despite his long absence from active football, with the experience of the Togo Captain, finding his feet again should not be a problem.
Daniel Amartey (Leicester City/Ghana)
Daniel Amartey joined current English league leaders Leicester City for a value of £4.5million from FC Copenhagen. The versatile Ghanaian who can play as a defensive midfielder and in central or right side of defence when fit, epitomises class and composure with the ball.
The EPL might represent a different challenge for the Ghanaian but his credential is never in doubt.
Meanwhile, it might be a bit tough for the young player to break into Claudio Ranieri's top of the league side. Going forward, Amartey would be one of the African players to watch out for in the near future. His versatility could also be very useful for Leicester as the league enters its decisive period.
Henri Saivet (Newcastle United/Senegal)
Henri Saivet may be relatively unknown, but the Senegalese central defensive midfielder who made the move from French club Bordeaux to Newcastle United for a fee of £5million could offer the sort of midfield stability that Steve Mclaren has longed for.
He would be particularly crucial in the team's fight to avoid the drop and a central midfield partnership with Mousa Sissoko could mark the making of Saivet.
Dame N'Doye (Sunderland/Senegal)
N'Doye is on loan at Sunderland from parent club Trabzonspor. The Striker's main objective is to help Sam Allardyce's struggling team survive relegation by finding the back of the net as often as possible.
He is not a stranger to English football as he was a part of the Hull City side that got relegated at the end of the previous season.
Nordin Amrabat (Watford/Morocco)
The Moroccan attacker who also plays on the wings, join Watford for a reported fee of £6million from Malaga in Spain.
With Watford already safe from relegation, the 28 year-old is expected to help the newcomers get a top ten finish in the league. His is technically gifted and should be one of the Africans in Europe to watch out for in the coming weeks in the EPL.
Italy
There were no big money moves involving Africans in the Italian Serie A, except for the return of Ghana international Boateng who AC Milan signed as a free agent.
Kevin Prince Boateng (AC Milan/Ghana)
Ghana midfielder, Kevin Prince Boateng returned to Italian giants AC Milan on a free transfer after the player parted ways with his former club Schalke, last summer. Boateng has so far hit the ground running with two goals so far and much is expected from the Ghanaian as AC Milan continue to push for a Champions League spot.
Issa Cissokho (Bari/Senegal)
The Senegal international defender is on loan at the Serie B side Bari from parent Club Genoa for the rest of the season.
Serge Gakpe (Atalanta/Togo)
Serge Gakpe, a pacey attacker has been farmed on loan to Atalanta from league rivals Genoa to get more first team football.
Mario Lamina (Juventus/Gabon)
The young Gabonese creative midfielder is on loan at Juventus from Marseille. He might not be expected to play any major role in Juve's push to retain the league title, but with an option to buy, the midfielder represents one for the young for the Italian club. Lamina is one of the promising young Africans to look out for in the near future.
Germany
The Bundesliga did not witness many new faces from the African continent. There were only two noticeable names imported into the German top division.
Papy Djilobodji (Werder Bremen/Senegal)
Papy Djilobodji might have made a shock move to Chelsea in the summer which did not go according to plan as he failed to kick a ball for the London club, but his loan move to German side Werder Bremen should not be a surprise.
Djilobodji, who says he was never given a chance at Chelsea to prove himself, has already made his first appearance for Bremen last weekend and would be one of the African players with a point to prove!
Younes Belhanda (Schalke/Morocco)
The attacking midfielder joined Schalke on loan from Dynamo Kyiv for the rest of this season. Schalke has struggled for form so far which the Moroccan attacker could add more bit to the German club's attack.
The Morocco international has joined the Royal Blues on a six-month loan deal. He was part of the Montpellier Herault SC side which won the French title in 2012. He adds a lot of trickery to his game and should be one of the Africans watch out for in the Bundesliga.
Sambou Yatabare (Bremen/Mali)
Mali international Sambou Yatabare signing a three-and-a-half-year deal at the club, keeping him at the Weserstadion until 30 June 2019. The 26-year-old midfielder joins from Greek side Olympiacos.
Spain
Christian Atsu (Malaga/ghana) The Ghana winger Christian Atsu has signed for Malaga on loan until the end of the season. Before linking up with Javi Gracia's Malaga, the 24-year-old Ghana international had said that he would imminently be joining their La Liga rivals, Levante.
Atsu, who has been shipped out to Vitesse Arnhem and Everton since joining the Blues from Porto in September 2013, did not feature in any Bournemouth match day squad in the Premier League after signing on loan last May. Atsu is exciting to watch with the style of play in the La Liga, the Ghanaian should have no problem finding his feet again.
Also, Senegalese midfielder Papakouli Diop was on a free transfer from Levante.
The South African forward Kermit Erasmus signed by Rennes from Orlando Pirates. The striker is very promising and should have no problem settling into his new team
Tunisian midfielder Amine Chermiti from Zurich.
Ivorian midfielder Ismael Diomande on loan from Saint-Etienne.
Gabonese defender Yrondu Musavu-King was also signed by Caen on loan from Granada.
Congolese forward Thievy Bifouma on loan from Granada.
Another notable move by an African in the football world outside Europe, was Ivorian talisman Yao Gervinho moving from AS Roma to join Chinese side Hebei China Fortune.
With expectations always high as one embark on a new adventure, and with the future always uncertain, the hope is that all these African stars live up to the billing by putting up spectacular displays for their respective clubs. We can only wish them well as they continue to fly the flag of Africa high.