Moises Caicedo completed his record transfer to Chelsea on Monday evening after seeing Liverpool have a bid accepted just days before but the Ecuadaor international only had one team on his mind
Why would Moises Caicedo choose Chelsea over Liverpool? For some, it appears an unthinkable prospect and the cynical suggestion that London life defeated the prestige of longstanding history, is easy to draw upon.
There's little doubting Chelsea wanted a midfielder but that midfielder wanted Chelsea too. Sunday's draw showed little separated the teams, and while Liverpool could offer Europa League football, Caicedo already had that option at Brighton.
The midfielder was very much part of Chelsea's plan, whereas on Thursday evening there was a perception that Liverpool had a change of heart on Romeo Lavia having not met his price and instead decided to foot up the price for Caicedo having lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
Chelsea could offer a connection to his heroes in Claude Makelele and N'Golo Kante. Even in the club's announcement, the Blues were able to recreate a photograph of a younger Caicedo leaning inside a car boot with his mother, donning a Chelsea shirt.
"Liverpool are a fantastic club - you'd imagine anyone would be running up the M6 for the chance to play at Anfield, but for whatever reason, Moises and his advisors decided London was their preferred destination," Brighton chief Paul Barber told Talksport.
Perhaps, but that point ignores Chelsea's longstanding interest. The Blues tried to sign the Seagulls star in January, and he was their premier target this summer. While slow progress may have proved exhausting for Brighton, it also left Caicedo longing for a move to west London that had long been in the offing.
After the Blues' success in landing Caicedo, perhaps there is an argument that Liverpool would offer a smoother route to the club's starting XI, but it is not as simple as that. Chelsea have had a sustained interest in the midfielder having even tried to sign him last summer, just weeks after he joined the Saints.
Chelsea director Joe Shields has offered a regular contact point after his own move from Manchester City to Southampton saw Lavia also make the move. His relationship with the youngster is said to have been key as the Blues changed head coaches.
Despite competition and midfield additions, Chelsea have provided some consistency. With Liverpool, Lavia has seen the Reds go through a series of targets in Mason Mount, Jude Bellingham, Alexis Mac Allister in addition to a late pivot to Caicedo.
There's no doubting Liverpool are a big club, and have earned success in recent years but in today's market that is not always enough to draw the best talent.
A younger generation will only have known a Chelsea side predisposed to success that has seen them lift every major trophy including two Champions League titles.