Faxes, helicopters, and the deals that died at 22:59.
THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
2006–2009 — West Ham signed Tevez and Mascherano; Arsenal and Chelsea swapped Ashley Cole for Gallas, announced at 1:30am. In 2008 Abu Dhabi bought Man City and broke the British record by midnight with £32.5m for Robinho, who then said Chelsea had made a great proposal. In 2009 the press chased Masal Bugduv, a wonderkid a journalist had made up.
2010–2013 — Van der Vaart's move to Spurs crashed the computers. Chelsea paid £50m for Torres; Liverpool spent it on Carroll and Suárez. Odemwingie drove to QPR with no deal. Willian passed a Spurs medical and signed for Chelsea. Fellaini cost United £27.5m after a £23.5m clause expired.
2014–2020 — Falcao joined United on loan; De Gea's move to Real Madrid died over late paperwork, each club blaming the other. PSG signed Mbappé on a loan carrying a £166m bill, and Arsenal paid Partey's clause at La Liga's offices.
2023
Chelsea made Enzo the most expensive player in British history at £106.8m, and still needed extra time for the paperwork.
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THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
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