Folarin Balogun arrived on Merseyside around lunchtime on Deadline Day expecting to complete his £40 million move to Everton from Monaco, Softfootball understands.
However, in one of the most dramatic twists of the transfer window, the USA international ultimately had a change of heart and walked away from the deal shortly after midnight.
The collapse has created a chain reaction involving Monaco and Chelsea, with the French club now facing the consequences of decisions made during the final hours of the transfer window.
As Everton and Monaco worked on the Balogun transfer, the terms of the deal were renegotiated, prompting Monaco to make a dramatic decision regarding another outgoing transfer.
Monaco already had a full agreement in place to sell midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea. The Senegal international was set to move to Stamford Bridge for £47 million, with the deal having progressed to an advanced stage.
However, as the 11pm deadline approached, Monaco withdrew from the Camara agreement, leaving Chelsea furious.
The Blues had been relying on Camara as the replacement for Enzo Fernández, who completed his £125m move to Manchester City. Chelsea could have responded by pulling the plug on Fernández’s transfer, but instead chose to honour their commitment to City in good faith.
The situation became even more extraordinary just after midnight on Wednesday, when it emerged that Balogun had reconsidered his move to Everton and walked away from the agreement.
That development is likely to infuriate Monaco even further, having already abandoned the Camara sale in order to accommodate the changes surrounding Balogun.
Everton are now left with just one recognised senior striker until January in Thierno Barry. Beto has departed for Fiorentina, while Manchester United rejected Everton’s loan approach for Joshua Zirkzee.
The Toffees have also lost Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City, further reducing their attacking options, although they did bring in Jack Grealish on another loan deal.
What initially looked like a major attacking reinforcement for Everton has instead ended in one of the most chaotic Deadline Day situations, leaving all three clubs dealing with the fallout.
