Chelsea have finally signed Ashley Cole for a cut-price £5million from Arsenal, with William Gallas moving the other way as part of the deal.
The two clubs issues a statement late on Thursday night confirming the protracted move was completed with just minutes to spare before the transfer window was firmly shut.
Following months of on-off negotiations, Arsenal accepted Chelsea's final offer, with both men undergoing medicals on Thursday evening.
Early on Friday morning, the Premiership champions issued a statement confirming the deal had been completed, bringing the farcical saga to an end.
"Chelsea FC and Arsenal have agreed terms for the transfers of Ashley Cole and William Gallas," the statement read.
"Chelsea will also pay Arsenal £5million.
"Both players have agreed personal terms and passed their respective medicals."
Cole, 25, had not figured in the Arsenal first team this season, but played in the reserves' 4-0 win against Charlton on Monday before joining up with the England squad in Manchester.
The England defender had long been expected to leave the Gunners, following the 'tapping-up' scandal when Cole was guilty of meeting Chelsea officials in a London hotel.
Relations between Arsenal and Chelsea have been distinctly cold since then, and the player's position seemed untenable having criticised the Gunners in extracts from his soon-to-be-published book.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted the club would only sell if the deal was right for them - and had intimated he would have no qualms about bringing the defender back into the fold should he still be at the club come Friday morning.
That, though, is now an uncomfortable scenario Wenger will not have to face as he continues first-team plans this season without a player regarded as one of the best left-backs in the world.
Arsenal were involved in plenty of transfer activity as the midnight deadline grew ever closer.
Winger Jose Antonio Reyes has been allowed to return to Spain after a swap loan deal was agreed to take Brazilian striker Julio Baptista in the opposite direction.
Central defender Pascal Cygan, meanwhile, joined Villarreal in a £2million deal, subject to a medical.
Chelsea finally get ashley cole
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