The summer transfer window will slam shut at 23:00 BST on Friday 30 August, with over 130 players already joining a Premier League club.
As clubs prepare to end their business until January at least, we take a look at eight of the shrewdest transfers in Premier League history who were signed on Deadline Day and proved to be transformative signings for their clubs. We want you to choose who was the best.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus to Man Utd, 2021)
After 12 years away from Old Trafford, Ronaldo sealed a sensational return to the club from Juventus on deadline day in 2021.
The iconic Portuguese forward may not have enjoyed a spell as successful as his first, but he still reminded everyone what an incredible talent he is by scoring 18 league goals in only 30 appearances at the age of 36.
Ronaldo's goals included a brace on his second debut against Newcastle United and hat-tricks in 3-2 successes over Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City. He also won April's EA SPORTS Player of the Month and March's Goal of the Month.
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid to Arsenal, 2013)
"Mesut’s achievements at Arsenal are undisputed" said manager Mikel Arteta at the end of the midfielder's seven-and-a-half year spell at Emirates Stadium in January 2021, and few could disagree.
Ozil made an instant impact when he joined for a then club record transfer fee from Real Madrid, claiming his first assist on his debut at Sunderland, and ending his first season with an FA Cup final win over Hull City.
Two more FA Cups followed in the next three seasons, while Ozil was also named Arsenal's Player of the Season in 2015/16. He made 184 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, scoring 33 goals and producing 54 assists.
Wayne Rooney (Everton to Man Utd, 2004)
When Rooney moved from boyhood club Everton to Old Trafford, he became the most expensive teenager in world football according to reports.
The 18-year-old started his Man Utd career as he meant to go on, netting three times on his debut against Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League, the first of his eight hat-tricks for the club.
Rooney won 13 major trophies including five Premier League titles, four League Cups and the Champions League, the FA Cup, Europa League and FIFA Club World Cup once. On 21 January 2017, he surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton to become the outright leading scorer for United after netting his 250th goal for the club at Stoke City.
Dimitar Berbatov (Spurs to Man Utd, 2008)
The languid playing style and sublime skills of Bulgaria forward Berbatov quickly established him as a crowd favourite, helping United to two Premier League titles, the League Cup and the Club World Cup in his four seasons at Old Trafford.
Berbatov is one of only five players to have scored five goals in a single Premier League match, achieving this feat in Man Utd’s 7-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers on 27 November 2010. He went on to net 20 times that season, sharing the Premier League Golden Boot award with Manchester City's Carlos Tevez.
Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund to Man City, 2022)
Akanji slotted seamlessly into Man City's back four following his move from Bundesliga side Dortmund, and was part of an historic Treble-winning side in his debut 2022/23 season. The Switzerland international won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, adding the Super Cup and 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in a remarkable year.
Comfortable playing across the backline, Akanji has made 61 appearances for City, including 30 in their 2023/24 title-winning campaign, when he also scored two goals. He has also contributed to 18 clean sheets for Pep Guardiola's side.
Ashley Cole (Arsenal to Chelsea, 2006)
One of the best, if not the best, left-backs to grace the Premier League, Cole would become the benchmark for his position. His tireless running and energy helped him to contribute in attack as well as defence, with 15 goals and 31 assists during his stellar career for both Arsenal and Chelsea.
After being a vital part of the Gunners’ 2001/02 and 2003/04 title-winning teams, the latter of whom were champions without losing a single match, Cole moved to Chelsea in 2006. He would make it a personal hat-trick of titles by lifting the Premier League Trophy at Stamford Bridge in 2009/10. Cole also helped Chelsea win four FA Cups, the Champions League and Europa League.
Alongside Chelsea and Arsenal team-mate Nicolas Anelka, he remains one of only two players to have won a Premier League and FA Cup double with more than one club.
Claude Makelele (Real Madrid to Chelsea, 2003)
Makelele redefined the role of the defensive midfielder to such an extent it was named after him. He was Chelsea's midfield conductor, nothing got past him, especially during 2004/05 when Jose Mourinho's team won the Premier League title, conceding a competition-low of only 15 goals.
France international Makelele helped Chelsea claim back-to-back titles, making 144 appearances and scoring twice in his five seasons at Stamford Bridge. He also won two League Cups and the FA Cup.
Cole Palmer (Man City to Chelsea, 2023)
There are not enough superlatives to describe Palmer's impact after leaving Man City last summer in what has been a remarkable start to life at Chelsea.
Palmer's debut campaign at Stamford Bridge just got better as the season wore on, peaking in March and April when he scored 10 goals in only seven matches, including a hat-trick against Man Utd, and four goals in a 6-0 win over Everton. His first goal against Everton won the April Premier League Goal of the Month award, one of 22 goals in only 33 top-flight appearances for Chelsea. The Hublot Young Player of the Season also produced 11 assists, second only to the 13 of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
