Chelsea fans will now be more aware than ever that a deal to sign a player can progress quickly after the Blues went from being in talks with Denis Zakaria to having agreed a deal for the midfielder and a medical being done in Italy.
The Juventus player rapidly emerged as the most likely choice to become Thomas Tuchel's newest defensive midfielder. He was the second important piece of deadline day business done by Chelsea after a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was agreed earlier in the day.
It serves as some of the final actions of Todd Boehly's first transfer window, a spell in which he has overseen a large overhaul of the squad - though there still remain long-term issues to sort out. With sanctions, a new ownership and lots to sort out this summer, Boehly has done more than his fair share of work.
