Transfer window shuts with a bang

As expected, Lionel Messi did not join Real Madrid, neither did Cristiano Ronaldo cross over to Barcelona. But there were many shock transfer deadline moves.

Here are some of the highest profile transfers that were made at the death of the transfer window:

Owen Hargreaves to Manchester City

Fee: Free transfer

Owen Hargreaves to Manchester City

Hargreaves signs for Manchester City

The shock deal came to light on Tuesday, when Hargreaves underwent an extensive medical, which he came through with flying colours.

Hargreaves' arrival will complete Mancini's extensive summer recruitment drive, becoming the Italian's sixth signing, all of them internationals, ensuring the Blues will not be lacking in experience on the tough road ahead.

Mikel Arteta - Everton to Arsenal

Fee: Undisclosed 

Mikel Arteta - Everton to Arsenal

Arteta completes Arsenal move

The Gunners looked to have missed out on Arteta earlier on deadline day after Everton rejected a bid for their star midfielder.

But Arteta reportedly forced the issue and Arsenal looked to have reached an agreement with their Premier League rivals before the 11pm deadline, revealing they had signed the 29-year-old on a four-year contract.

Raul Meireles - Liverpool to Chelsea

Fee: £12million

Raul Meireles - Liverpool to Chelsea

Chelsea complete swoop for Meireles

Chelsea succeeded in another last-gasp raid of Liverpool after completing the signing of Raul Meireles with minutes of the transfer window remaining.

In an echo of Fernando Torres' £50million January switch, the Blues left it until just before the deadline to complete a deal for Meireles.

Like Torres, the midfielder submitted a written transfer request, with Liverpool agreeing a fee with Chelsea reportedly in the region of £12million.

Yossi Benayoun - Chelsea to Arsenal

Fee: Season loan

Yossi Benayoun - Chelsea to Arsenal

Yossi Benayoun joins Arsenal on loan

Israel captain Benayoun had been linked with a number of clubs but opted for the Gunners, who will play in this season's Champions League.

The midfielder, who is currently on international duty, wrote on Twitter: "I sign with Arsenal, very happy and excited about it, but now my head is only in the game against Greece on Friday, thanks for the support."

Craig Bellamy - Man City to Liverpool

Fee: Free Transfer

Craig Bellamy - Man City to Liverpool

Craig Bellamy seals Liverpool return

The 32-year-old spent last season on loan at npower Championship side Cardiff after a rift with City boss Roberto Mancini saw him excluded from the first-team squad.

Bellamy's return to Anfield comes four years after he left having been brought to the club 12 months earlier by Rafael Benitez. 

He scored nine goals in 42 matches but off-field issues, most notably an infamous incident with a golf club and team-mate John Arne Riise and a strained relationship with Benitez, contributed to his departure to West Ham.

Per Mertesacker - Werder Bremen to Arsenal

Fee: £8million

Per Mertesacker - Werder Bremen to Arsenal

Arsenal seal Mertesacker deal

The Germany defender signed what the club described as "a long-term contract" for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £8million.

Mertesacker said: "I had a great time at SV Werder Bremen and I'm grateful to the club."Moving to London enables me to fulfil a dream and a further step in my career. "The Premier League has always represented a great challenge for me."

Joe Cole - Liverpool to Lille

Fee: Season loan

Joe Cole - Liverpool to Lille

Joe Cole moves to Lille on loan

The 29-year-old travelled to France on Tuesday to undergo a medical and, despite a late bid by Aston Villa, the player has opted to join the Ligue 1 club.

The England midfielder has failed to impress at Anfield having moved on a free transfer from Chelsea last summer.

Aston Villa had made a late bid to take Cole to the midlands but it was always going to be difficult as Liverpool had the option to loan him to a club who were not a Barclays Premier League rival, which was preferable.

Peter Crouch - Tottenham to Stoke City

Fee: £10million

Peter Crouch - Tottenham to Stoke City

Peter Crouch seals Stoke move

Crouch has signed a four-year deal with the Potters after struggling for first-team opportunities at Spurs of late, and the forward completed a busy day for Tony Pulis' team on transfer deadline day, with Wilson Palacios and Cameron Jerome also signing from Spurs and Birmingham respectively.

The Crouch deal could even rise to £12million dependent on the fulfilment of various clauses.

Scott Parker - West Ham to Tottenham

Fee: £6million

Scott Parker - West Ham to Tottenham

Tottenham complete Parker signing

Parker, 30, had been a long-term target for Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, the former Charlton youngster having been voted Footballer of the Year for his efforts to keep West Ham up last season.

The England midfielder on Tuesday handed in a formal transfer request to West Ham, and the deal, believed to be worth £6million, was completed on Wednesday afternoon.