Deadline Day's most dramatic saga of the summer unfolded across three clubs and two players — and ended with everybody walking away empty-handed.

Folarin Balogun rejected a move to Everton at the eleventh hour, a decision that simultaneously wrecked Chelsea's bid to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco and left the Merseysiders without a recognised striker heading into the new season.

Medical doubts spark renegotiation

Monaco required a sale to address a debt problem, and Everton needed a frontman. Balogun appeared the perfect solution, with both clubs agreeing a £40 million fee — until a complication emerged during the USA international's medical.

Everton's medical staff identified what they believed was evidence of an injury. Monaco and Balogun disputed the finding, insisting he was fully fit and available to play immediately.

With the 11pm deadline closing in, Everton chose to proceed — but sought to restructure the deal to protect themselves. The club-to-club agreement was reworked into a heavily performance-related package, with clauses that would reduce Monaco's guaranteed payout if Balogun were unable to feature. Crucially, Balogun's own personal terms remained entirely unchanged throughout.

Everton's Zirkzee approach angers Balogun

While the Balogun renegotiation was still live, Chelsea struck a separate agreement with Monaco to acquire midfielder Camara as cover for Enzo Fernandez, who was finalising a joint-British record £125 million move to Manchester City.

Simultaneously, Everton made a loan approach for Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee — an offer understood to total around £10 million, covering both his wages and a loan fee. Old Trafford rejected the approach, feeling it arrived too late and fell short on value.

It was this Zirkzee pursuit that proved the turning point for Balogun. The forward interpreted Everton's interest in another striker as the club going behind his back, and his discontent quickly became public.