Chelsea re-signed David Luiz and English Premier League champions Leicester City broke their transfer record for striker Islam Slimani as Premier League clubs exceeded the NZ$1.81 billion barrier when the curtain fell on transfer deadline day.
Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere completed an unexpected loan move to Bournemouth, while Tottenham Hotspur pipped Everton to Newcastle United's Moussa Sissoko in a deal said to be worth NZ$54 million.
Jack Wilshere
Moussa Sissoko
Fees paid by Premier League clubs passed one billion pounds for the first time, according to financial analysts Deloitte.
That was inflated by the world record NZ$161 million that Manchester United paid Juventus for France midfielder Paul Pogba earlier in the window. United also got one of the close-season bargains in Zlatan Ibrahimovic who joined as a free agent.
The highest fee on deadline day, reported to be about NZ$61 million, was paid by Chelsea for Brazil defender Luiz who had left the London club to join Paris Saint-Germain two years ago for NZ$90 million.
David Luiz
Chelsea also completed the signing of Spanish left back Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina for NZ$43 million, making them the Premier League's biggest spenders on the final day.
Leicester were among 13 Premier League clubs to break their club transfer record, paying an initial NZ$46 million to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Slimani. It was the third time they had set their club record in the window.
France midfielder Sissoko appeared set for a move to Everton before Spurs nipped in to sign the player, having earlier completed a deal to bring Olympique de Marseille forward Georges-Kevin N'Koudou to White Hart Lane in a five-year deal.
Manchester City, who splashed out millions on players such as England defender John Stones earlier in the window, were among the clubs trimming their squads on deadline day.
Coach Pep Guardiola allowed England goalkeeper Joe Hart, Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala to leave on season-long loans.
Mario Balotelli ended his miserable spell at Liverpool by joining Nice in a permanent transfer.
Mario Balotelli
Another England international, midfielder Wilshere, moved on loan to Bournemouth from Arsenal as he looks to get his career back on track after being plagued by injuries in recent seasons.
Newshub / Reuters
All images courtesy of Getty
