The transfer window came to a frantic conclusion on Tuesday, with African players central to some of the day's biggest storylines, deals, near misses and eye-catching gambles.
There was a distinctly Senegalese flavour to proceedings; Iliman Ndiaye and Ibrahim Mbaye completed two of the Premier League's most expensive deals of the day, while Pape Matar Sarr left England for a fresh start at Juventus.
From established internationals seeking new surroundings to clubs investing vast sums in Africa's next generation, it was a fitting conclusion to a window in which the continent's players again featured prominently.
Here's our review of what happened on Tuesday's deadline day (and what didn't), and we pick out our best and worst deals from the window.
Iliman Ndiaye to City
No African nation came close to dominating the final hours like Senegal.
The headline move was Iliman Ndiaye joining Manchester City from Everton, with the playmaker moving for a reported £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
The 26-year-old has signed a five-year deal after two impressive seasons on Merseyside, but must now adapt to increased competition for places, where the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Jérémy Doku will expect to be first choice under Enzo Maresca.
"It's an unbelievable moment," Ndiaye told City's social handles. "I've worked so hard to get to this point. I'm super excited and really grateful for this opportunity.
"It's been difficult," he added. "I have a family, I have kids. I don't want to be waiting until the last minute, it can be a bit stressful, you want to know your future early on.
"I can say it's the best thing that's happened to me."
Ibrahim Mbaye to Villa
Ndiaye's Senegal teammate Ibrahim Mbaye was another high-profile arrival in the Premier League, joining Aston Villa for £47 million as part of Unai Emery's Villa Park rebuild.
It's a hefty investment in an 18-year-old who has shown flashes of excellence -- including a fine solo goal against France in the FIFA World Cup -- but nothing like the consistency required to typically justify such a fee.
Going the other way, former African Young Footballer of the Year Pape Matar Sarr secured an exit from Tottenham Hotspur as he joined Juventus on loan. Still only 23, and already experienced, he must rediscover the form that made him a key player under Ange Postecoglou.
Beyond this trio, Boulaye Dia, Habib Diallo and Aliou Badji also secured late moves, joining Stade Rennais, Le Mans, and Sivasspor respectively.
The one who got away
Until the death, another Senegal international -- Lamine Camara -- had appeared destined to arrive at Chelsea in one of the big African moves of the window.
The Blues intensified their interest in the Monaco midfielder as Enzo Fernández closed in on a move to Manchester City, with reports suggesting an agreement worth £47 million was on the brink of being secured.
Ultimately, Monaco - potentially content that their revenue needs had been met by the departure of Balogun to Everton - u-turned on the deal, pulling the plug and ensuring the transfer collapsed mid-flight.
It was classic deadline-day theatre, compounded by the fact that Everton's deal for Balogun ultimately fell through, leaving Chelsea short of a midfielder and Monaco short of valuable deadline-day income.
Ultimately, Camara will still be a valuable asset in transfer windows to come, while his development may not have been best served by competing for minutes behind the likes of Romeo Lavia and Moisés Caicedo at Stamford Bridge.
Other African headlines
Elsewhere, Guinea-Bissau striker Beto left Everton for Fiorentina in a £15.4m deal, ending his troubled spell on Merseyside.
While some portions of the fanbase admired the 28-year-old for his work rate and attitude, his clumsiness in front of goal ultimately cost him a longer spell on Merseyside.
Without him, and with a deal to sign Folarin Balogun appearing to fall through, however, the Toffees risk leaving them short in attack.
Beyond him, Everton's overhaul also took Tim Ireogbunam to Hull City, who also signed Ilyas Ansah from Union Berlin for £21 million as they brought in yet more bodies to attempt to give themselves the best chance of survival in the top flight.
Some players secured deadline-day moves on the bank of strong World Cups; tireless Neil El Aynaoui sealed a new opportunity at RB Leipzig, Guela Doué continued his rapid ascent by joining Bayer Leverkusen from Strasbourg, while Axel Tuanzebe joined Auxerre from Burnley.
There were intriguing moves involving familiar Premier League names, with Arsenal sending Ethan Nwaneri to Borussia Dortmund as Mikel Arteta seeks to give the wonderkid adequate minutes, while Tosin Adarabioyo crossed London after leaving Chelsea for Spurs.
Rayan Aït-Nouri was a fascinating African non-transfer; Manchester United are understood to have made a surprise deadline-day enquiry for the Algeria fullback from Manchester City, initially on loan.
However, City were only willing to consider a move that involved an obligation to buy - either now or later - and United ultimately stepped away.
It remains to be seen where the left back - who only arrived from Wolves a year ago - can still salvage a future for himself at the Etihad Stadium, or whether he faces four months of inactivity before being able to move on in January.
