Ross Barkley has made a late U-turn on a £35 million move to Chelsea.
The Premier League champions had agreed a deal with Everton for the want-away midfielder to secure a deadline day move to Stamford Bridge.
Barkley refused to sign a new deal with the Blues, prompting manager Ronald Koeman to warn that he risked being sold without a firm long-term commitment.
Chelsea and Tottenham both tracked the England international with a view to a move but it was the former who struck a deal with the Everton hierarchy.
However Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s majority shareholder, has revealed that Barkley had a last-minute change of heart on a move to the Londoners.
“The two clubs agreed a deal of £35 million,” he told Sky Sports News.
“I think personal terms were agreed and after the medical, we heard from Paul Martin, Ross Barkley’s agent, that he changed his mind.
“He wanted to reconsider his position in the January window.
“He is currently injured so I think technically he will be with us because he is under contract for another year.
“It is a big surprise, but that is football.”