Manchester City splashed out over £35 million on Inter Milan star Maicon, Benfica midfielder Javi Garcia, Swansea winger Scott Sinclair and Fiorentina defender Matija Nastasic as the Premier League champions embarked on a transfer deadline day spending spree.
City boss Roberto Mancini has endured a frustrating time in the transfer market since the end of last season, but there was a late flurry of activity at Eastlands before Friday's 2200GMT deadline.
The Italian's £6 million move for Sinclair was followed by the capture of Brazil right-back Maicon for £3 million.
Next up was a £12 million deal for Serbia's Nastasic, which saw City defender Stefan Savic join Fiorentina in part exchange for the 19-year-old, as well as the arrival of former Arsenal goalkeeper Richard Wright on a free transfer.
Mancini wasn't finished there and he completed a £16 million move for Garcia in the final minutes before the transfer window shut until January.
To make room for his fresh recruits, Mancini sold Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong to AC Milan, while Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz moved to Malaga on a season-long loan.
Tottenham were the other big movers, signing Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and swooping for Fulham forward Clint Dempsey.
United States international Dempsey made his surprise move after Liverpool and Aston Villa were unable to complete a deal for the £7 million-rated star.
As well as gate-crashing the Dempsey chase, Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas pushed through an £8 million swoop for French international Lloris, who signed a four-year contract.
"I am here because I believe in Tottenham," Lloris told Spurs TV Online.
"They have great team and everything is right to win a place in the Champions League next year."
On a frantic day at White Hart Lane, Villas-Boas also sold Holland midfielder Rafael van der Vaart to his former club Hamburg and off-loaded Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos to Spanish club Real Mallorca.
Fulham boss Martin Jol sealed a significant coup for his club as he signed Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov from Manchester United for £5 million.
Berbatov rejected interest from Juventus, Fiorentina and Tottenham to be reunited with Jol, who worked with the forward at Spurs.
"I'm delighted to have signed for Fulham and I look forward to playing under Martin Jol once again," Berbatov said.
Jol also brought in Wolfsburg winger Ashkan Dejagah and former England left-back Kieran Richardson from Sunderland, who then landed Tottenham defender Danny Rose on loan as a replacement.
Chelsea allowed Ghana midfielder Michael Essien to make a season-long loan switch to Real Madrid, where he will work under his former Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers continued his Anfield clear-out as Scotland international Charlie Adam was sold to Stoke for £4 million, while fellow midfielder Jay Spearing joined Bolton on a season-long loan and striker Nathan Eccleston moved to Blackpool.
Across Merseyside, Everton signed Bryan Oviedo from FC Copenhagen after agreeing a £5 million fee for the Costa Rica defender and then secured midfielder Matthew Kennedy from Kilmarnock on a three-year deal.
Southampton finally signed Gaston Ramirez from Bologna for around £12 million after chasing the 21-year-old Uruguay playmaker for several weeks, and also landed USA Under-20 international goalkeeper Cody Cropper from Ipswich.
Swansea, needing a replacement for Sinclair, signed Spain winger Pablo Hernandez from Valencia for a club record £5.55 million.
Arsenal allowed South Korea striker Park Chu-young to go out on loan to Celta Vigo with a view to a permanent switch, while Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner agreed a season-long loan with Italian champions Juventus.
QPR midfielder Joey Barton joined French club Marseille on a season-long loan, with defender Stephane Mbia moving in the other direction on a two-year contract.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert bolstered his squad with the signings of Belgium striker Christian Benteke, who cost £7 million from Genk, £2 million Crewe midfielder Ashley Westwood and young striker Jordan Bowery, a £500,000 capture from Chesterfield.
West Bromwich Albion signed Dynamo Kiev's Macedonia left-back Goran Popov on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal.
