Top transfers of the winter break

It's unusual in Germany to see a big-name player come or go over the winter period. This year was different, however. World Cup winner Andre Schürrle completed his return to the Bundesliga, leaving Chelsea, for Wolfsburg. The 24-year old, who left Bayer Leverkusen for the English club in 2013, has signed for Wolfsburg for a reported 32 million euros ($36 million) on a deal until June 2019.

Another World Cup winner made a move in this transfer period. Lukas Podolski, who has made 121 appearances for Germany, headed to Milan, to join Internazionale on loan until the end of the season. According to "Gazetta dello Sport", the 29-year old can join Inter permanently from Arsenal in the summer, for 6.5 million euros.

Borussia Dortmund headed into the winter break second bottom of the Bundesliga, needing a lift heading into the second half of the season. How about a new signing? The impressive hairstyle of Kevin Kampl will be on our screens much more, as the midfielder joined BVB for 12 million euros, from Red Bull Salzburg.

Nils Petersen has been an attraction in the Bundesliga for some time, but has struggled in the last few years with Werder Bremen. The 26-year old, previously of Bayern Munich, is looking to restart his career with a move on loan to Freiburg, until the end of the season. He started well, scoring a hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 18.

Having said for years that "me and my family want to live in Hamburg when my football is done," Ivica Olic made the simple decision of moving to the North of Germany, before he's even hung up his boots. The striker returned to HSV, having played for them between 2007 and 2009, on a deal until 2016 worth 1.5 million euros.

22-year old Danish defender Jannik Vestergaard has been struggling in the Bundesliga, even after making 71 appearances for Hoffenheim. With a drop in form, a move could be crucial to his continued development. Hoffenheim are reluctant to sell the youngster permanently, and so they loaned him to Werder Bremen until the end of the season.

In a major boost for the Royal Blues, Serbian defender Matija Nastasic joined Schalke on loan from English champions Manchester City until the end of the season. It's also been confirmed by the Gelsenkirchen club, that there is an option for a permanent transfer to be made at the end of the season. He hadn't played for Manchester City competitively since February 2014.

Srdjan Lakic, who has played for nine clubs in 10 years, made another move to add to his tally by jumping up from the Bundesliga second division to join SC Paderborn, from Kaiserslautern. The striker signed a deal until 2016 in the hope that he can help Paderborn survive their first ever season in the German top flight.

One of Bayern Munich's best prospects of recent years, Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, joined Bavarian locals Augsburg on loan until the end of the season. Guardiola sees the 19-year old midfielder as one for the future with Bayern and, as he was struggling to get good play-time with the Bundesliga champions, a move to a nearby team on the up is a smart one.

Never has a 16-year old footballer been so important to the world's news. When Martin Odegaard chose Real Madrid over the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United this transfer window, lots was made of whether the teenager was making the right move. He won't play for the first-team until next season, at least.

English Premier League sides are known for making expensive transfers at this point in the season. The infamous "Transfer deadline day" is almost like a holiday for English football fans. This time round, Ivory Coast star Wilfried Bony made the biggest move from Swansea to Premier League champions Manchester City, for 28 million pounds (37.14 million euros, $42.16 million).

Just like Andre Schürrle, Colombian international Juan Cuadrado also made headlines on deadline day, as the winger joined Chelsea from Fiorentina for a reported 23.3 million pounds. The World Cup star's move to England was confirmed just after Schürrle's departure to Wolfsburg was announced.