Manchester City completed blockbuster deals for Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye as Premier League clubs smashed the record for spending in a single transfer window, with the total reaching an extraordinary £3.46 billion.
City were at the heart of a frantic deadline day, paying £125 million to Chelsea for Fernandez before adding Everton forward Ndiaye for £65 million.
The spending spree comes as City look to provide manager Enzo Maresca with a squad capable of reclaiming the Premier League title after going two seasons without lifting the trophy.
Fernandez had been linked with a move to the Etihad for several months, with the Argentina international having previously impressed under Maresca at Chelsea.
However, City had to wait until the closing hours of the window on Tuesday before reaching an agreement for the 25-year-old World Cup winner.
The reported £125 million fee matches the British transfer record Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak a year earlier and helped push total Premier League spending during the window to a record £3.46 billion, surpassing the previous high of £3.1 billion.
Fernandez joins a dramatically reshaped City midfield alongside England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the trio costing more than £325 million combined.
"He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer," City director of football Hugo Viana said.
City's spending did not end with Fernandez, as they also completed a £65 million move for Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.
The deal took City's summer expenditure beyond £450 million.
"I've worked my whole life for an opportunity like this," the 26-year-old Ndiaye said.
"To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I'm determined to grab it with both hands."
Chelsea's attempt to replace Fernandez with Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara collapsed before the deadline.
Everton were also frustrated in negotiations with Monaco after a proposed £40 million deal for United States striker Folarin Balogun fell through at the last minute.
However, Everton did secure the return of Jack Grealish on loan following his spell under David Moyes last season.
Chelsea also agreed a £40 million deal for Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor. The 18-year-old will officially join the Blues in 2027 and will spend this season on loan at Crystal Palace.
Premier League champions Arsenal endured a relatively quiet deadline day after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez came to an end.
Arsenal had been competing with Barcelona for the Argentina international, but the Spanish champions eventually turned their attention to the Gunners and completed a move for Gabriel Jesus.
"I had a chance 10 years ago and life took me in another direction, but now I can be here and it's a dream for me," Jesus said.
Liverpool had already made a major statement on Monday by completing a £123 million deal for Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola.
However, their attempts to strengthen further were unsuccessful.
The Reds had bids rejected for Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh, meaning Cody Gakpo will remain at Anfield despite interest from Manchester City and Tottenham.
Liverpool did complete the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, although the 18-year-old will return to Genk on loan for the remainder of the season.
Another wide player linked with Liverpool, Ibrahim Mbaye, instead joined Aston Villa for a reported £47 million.
Mbaye made 31 appearances in all competitions for PSG last season as the French giants won both the Champions League and Ligue 1.
Villa also strengthened their defence with the £29 million signing of Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Tottenham responded to missing out on Ndiaye and Gakpo by completing a loan move for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk.
Spurs also signed another Chelsea player, Tosin Adarabioyo, in a deal worth £10 million.
Newcastle United completed a £51 million move for Lille's Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo as they continued their major squad rebuild.
The Magpies have been reshaping their squad following the summer departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
Newcastle also allowed German striker Nicolas Woltemade to join Juventus on loan.
The flurry of deadline-day deals capped an unprecedented summer of Premier League spending, with clubs combining to spend £3.46 billion — comfortably breaking the competition's previous single-window record.
