Tottenham dramatically pipped Everton to the £30m signing of Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle in the dying embers of the transfer window.
The deal was confirmed by Sissoko on his Twitter account just two minutes before the 11pm deadline after a day of frenzied pursuit by the two Premier League clubs.
Sissoko, 27, had been desperate for a move away from Newcastle since the club was relegated in May but this long-running saga only reached its frantic conclusion on Wednesday evening.
Sissoko’s stock sky-rocketed following an impressive European Championship display with France and a man-of-the-match performance in the final defeat by Portugal.
He had not made an appearance for Newcastle in the Championship this season as the club sought to ship him out to the highest bidder.
Spurs have matched their club transfer record by signing Sissoko, rivaling the £30m Tottenham paid Roma for Erik Lamela in 2013.
As the clock ticked down towards the 11pm deadline, tension was building in North London and on Tyneside as both Newcastle and Spurs sought to tie down a deal.
It was a day of typical Daniel Levy drama, as the Spurs Chairman left it late to secure his manager’s target.
Newcastle began the day demanding £30m from all potential suitors – although they were prepared to accept the payment being made in instalments to help smooth over any deal.
As a result, the club have secured a £28.5m profit on a player they signed from Toulouse for only £1.5m in 2013.
On Wednesday morning, Sissoko was granted permission by the French FA to leave the Clairefontaine training base where he had been training with the France national team.
The aim was to secure his exit route from Newcastle but the destination remained unknown.
The North East club’s tough bargaining position eventually paid off as both Everton and Spurs came to the table in frenzied circumstances.
Tottenham are understood to have made an opening offer that would have reached £18m including add-ons.
Newcastle rejected the bid out of hand, confident that Spurs would eventually cave in to their demands.
Newcastle’s hand was then strengthened when Everton then made their move, offering the £30m that Sissoko’s club craved.
Manager Ronald Koeman was still keen for recruits in midfield positions after missing out on Marko Arnautovic earlier this summer when the Austrian signed a new deal with Stoke.
And Everton agreed a deal with Newcastle in the afternoon that would have seen them pay the five instalments of £6m that Newcastle were demanding.
Personal terms had also been agreed with Sissoko and Newcastle had given him permission to travel to Merseyside to undergo a medical.
Everton had even laid on a private jet to get Sissoko down from the Northeast but the player never boarded the plane and when Ronald Koeman tried to call Sissoko to welcome him to Everton, he was left uncertain about what was happening after the France international refused to pick up the phone.
It soon became apparent to Everton that they were not Sissoko’s first choice and, eventually, they were left looking red faced shortly before the window closed, when they withdrew their interest even though the reality was they were not even being considered.
Tottenham quickly entered the race once more and a five-year deal was agreed with the French international’s entourage after Spurs had signalled their intention that they would pay the £30m fee.
Newcastle and the player’s entourage then came to an understanding that Sissoko would join Tottenham on account of Mauricio Pochettino’s side competing in the Champions League this season.
He travelled to London to undergo a medical and completed the deal with minutes to spare.
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