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Chelsea's eleventh-hour £47.2million move for Lamine Camara dramatically collapsed just minutes after the 11pm deadline on Transfer Deadline Day passed.
The Blues had agreed a deal to sign Monaco's 22-year-old midfielder as a replacement for the Manchester City-bound Enzo Fernandez.
But after reaching a full written club-to-club agreement, Monaco went back on their word.
Having renegotiated the Folarin Balogun's move to Everton - which itself had appeared to be in serious doubt - Monaco then reneged on the agreement they had already reached with Chelsea.
Chelsea sources have said they find it an extraordinarily unprofessional way for a club to conduct business.
The dramatic developments came just hours after Chelsea agreed to sell Argentine midfielder Fernandez for a joint-record British transfer fee of £125m.
Chelsea have dramatically agreed a £47.2million deal to sign Monaco's 22-year-old midfielder Lamine Camara
Chelsea had the opportunity to stop the Fernandez to City deal when they learned of Monaco's U-turn - but they stuck to their word after agreeing the £125m deal.
Chelsea had already seen two bids worth £38.5m and £42.9m turned down for Camara earlier in the day.
The Senegalese international was set to sign a six-year deal with the option of a one-year extension.
City leaving their club-to-club negotiations for Fernandez until the final two days of the window had left Chelsea with limited time to secure their own signing.
The Blues have been in need of midfield reinforcements amid injuries to the likes of Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson, even before Fernandez's departure.
Reece James and Malo Gusto have both played in midfield in the opening weeks of the season, with Romeo Lavia fit and Valentin Barco used as a substitute.
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