Striker Nicolas Jackson was at the heart of one of the summer window's most dramatic transfer stories, but ultimately got his wish by joining Bayern Munich on loan from Chelsea.
It was not lost on anyone involved in the deal that the 24-year-old would quickly face his parent club when Bayern host Chelsea in their opening Champions League game on Wednesday.
Those who helped complete the on-off-on deal had plenty of time around a frantic deadline day to discuss his debut for the German super club in Europe's premier competition.
Jackson remained in Germany throughout as a deal was agreed on Saturday morning, before permission to have a medical was cancelled because of a serious hamstring injury to Blues striker Liam Delap.
But the move was back on by Monday's deadline.
During that time, Jackson told his advisors he was looking forward to facing, and hopefully scoring against, Chelsea.
That feeling sums up some of the emotions as Jackson left Stamford Bridge.
He is likely to feel he has a point to prove to some of the Chelsea fans that never fully embraced him, notably booing him off during former manager Mauricio Pochettino's tenure.
Some of the management, including head coach Enzo Maresca, also began to lose trust in him after two red cards against Newcastle United in the Premier League and Flamengo in the Club World Cup at the end of last season.
That fracturing of the bond between Jackson and Chelsea, along with the arrival of strikers Joao Pedro and Delap, pushed him out of west London.
At his unveiling at Bayern, Jackson said: "It was tough - a tough time. Difficult moments in those last days. But I was very confident I will stay here because this is where I want to play and want to be.
"Max [Eberl, Bayern sporting director] and the coach really wanted me. It was very tough but in the end we got it, so I'm very glad.
"I've watched Bayern all my life. It was a dream to join this massive club. When they called me I was excited and ready to come and play for them."
Yet, this on-off-on transfer saga is only over for now, because the deal - a loan with an obligation to buy - does not appear watertight.