The transfer window is now firmly shut until the summer, and it was as busy and hectic as ever for the Sky Bet Championship.

There was plenty of money thrown about and records broken, with clubs desperate to both make the Premier League and survive relegation to League One.

Chairmen have backed their managers at the top of the league as they seek to win that all important promotion and take their share of the riches on offer in the Premier League.

Clubs spent over £150m overall during the window, and a fair chunk of this was traded between or by Championship clubs.

There was some superb business done by clubs in the Championship, from the extravagant lavish transfers at the top of the table like Jordan Rhodes big money move, to the bottom of the table, where the likes of Preston and Rotherham picked up Premier League players to aid their cause.

Here, I take a look at the FIVE best signings made by Championship clubs during the transfer window.....

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 5 JANUARY SIGNINGS!

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Jordan Rhodes

The big one, and probably an obvious one, but despite the hefty price tag of a reported £11m, Rhodes could be worth every penny.

Middlesbrough got their man - eventually - and Aitor Karanka will be delighted to have got him through the door at the Riverside.

Rhodes has scored 20 goals or more in each of the last 4 seasons in the Championship, and is always one of the most sought after players in transfer windows. He has now finally got the move which has been mentioned for so long, and he will be hoping to fire Boro to the Premier League with his goals.

Boro fans will be delighted with the capture of Rhodes, and it shows that Chairman Steve Gibson is fully supportive of his manager and has every confidence in his ability to get his side promoted.

Steve Sidwell

A signing which went somewhat under the radar, but Brighton's capture of the Stoke midfielder should not be understimated.

Sidwell is a seasoned campaigner in both the Premiership and the Championship, and will add steel and quality to their ranks as Chris Hughton attempts to get the Seagulls in to the Premier League for the first time in the clubs history.

He could well act as a lynch pin to allow the rest of Brighton's players to show creative freedom, and his experience and knowhow will be vital in the run in, not only on the pitch, but in training and off the field as well.

Nick Blackman 

Although he has yet to fire his first goal for Derby County, the fact they managed to prize one of the league's leading strikers away from a rival speaks volumes about the attraction of playing at the iPro Stadium.

Blackman is a bag of tricks as well pacey, and can operate up top or out wide in the attack, and seemingly looks perfectly suited to Paul Clement and the way he wants his team to play football.

Derby have faltered of late, but if they are to pick up results and keep challenging, then Blackman and his goals will be a key component in this objective.

Diego Fabbrini

The diminutive midfield playmaker had been on loan with Middlesbrough, impressing during a spell with the high flying North East side.

However, after falling out of favour for a few games with Boro, Birmingham manager Gary Rowett swooped to bring Fabbrini back to St Andrews, where he had previously enjoyed a loan spell.

Fabbrini could be a steal as Birmingham look to seal a play-off place, something which many fans would have written off at the start of the season.

Rowett used the money generated from the sale of Demarai Gray very wisely, with the addition of Will Buckley also. Blues fans will be intrigued to see if they can cement that 6th spot and win promotion back to the Premier League.

Aiden McGeady

What a signing this could be for Sheffield Wednesday.

The Republic of Ireland international has joined on season loan, and with a point to prove.

Short of game time at Everton, and determined to win a place in the Republic squad for the upcoming European Championships in France, McGeady could well be a difference maker for the Owls.

He possesses undoubted quality, and can win a game on his own with his dribbling and trickery.

If McGeady can rediscover his form what he showed at Celtic, which prompted Spartak Moscow to sign him, then Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal may well have pulled of the coup of the window!

Championship fans, what do you think? Agree? Who else was a great signing during the window for your club? Let us know using the comments below!