From Kenneth Paal to Ryan Alebiosu and Felipe Caicedo, no one will be more pleased than manager Nigel Pearson that he won't need to entertain any more speculation regarding Bristol City at least for another few months.
It started off with a bang with Mark Sykes the first to make his way to the Ashton Gate roof. Relatively unknown having joined from Oxford United as a winger on a free transfer, topics of debate quickly started doing the rounds.
Could he cut it in the Championship? Where would he fit into the system? Will Pearson switch up his formation to play wingers? There were understandable unknowns but what was abundantly clear was that there would be no more shopping in Harrods this summer.
His arrival sparked a mini flurry of new faces. Pearson and Richard Gould would pull a rabbit of the Hatters (sorry) with Kal Naismith and an opportunity to pull out the popcorn and watch the entertaining meltdown coming out of Kenilworth Road.
Then came the most high-profile bit of business from a City perspective with Kane Wilson arriving from Forest Green for a nominal compensation fee. A player who was regarded as one of the best prospects below the Championship following a brilliant season for Forest Green Rovers and a sigh of relief that there would likely be no more square pegs in round holes at right wing-back.
City's transfer business and strategy was becoming clearer but there were still glaring issues the club needed to deal with both on and off the pitch. City needed to reduce an over-inflated wage bill to fall in line with Financial Fair Play regulations while Pearson was also keen on addressing the overall culture surrounding the club.
So now the window has 'slammed shut', how can City's overall business be rated?
The positives...
Let's start with the obvious and undoubtedly the best bit of business of the transfer window - Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo will remain City players until at least January.
So much speculation and talk that one or god forbid both players would be heading to the Premier League with Tottenham, Leicester, Everton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, West Ham, Manchester United and Chelsea all among the clubs linked in some way or another for City's prized-assets.
City's stance was clear all along - their precarious financial situation meant the players were available for the right price but the club were never going to bend down and take a whipping from the big boys over their valuation. Scott and Semenyo have also shown their utmost class not to be distracted by the ongoing whispers over their futures and that's a credit both to them and the way the club have looked after them having come through the academy.
We're all not naive enough to know that it's only a matter of when they make the move to the Premier League and when they go they will leave with everyone's best wishes. However, with the way they have started the season and City's overall positive start to the season - there's no harm in daring to dream.
Any success that comes out of this season, whether it's flirting with the top six, a positive cup run or just a brand of exciting football, those pair will play their part and to see them remain in BS3, for the time being, can only be considered a pleasure and a privilege.
There is a caveat to that, however. Without trying to sound negative and for the sake of a balanced argument, it has meant Pearson hasn't been able to strengthen areas he would have wanted - although we'll come back to that subject later.
It also means that without a high-profile sale, City will still be chewing their nails over the financial implications of being in the red. Although one would assume the fact they haven't been sold suggests confidence that the club could avoid that dreaded points deduction.
Semenyo's return to action, where he has averaged a goal every 28 minutes of football (Erling Haaland's is every 58 minutes in comparison) meant a few Twitter rumours on deadline day of Bournemouth's late offer did have a few counting down the hours until 11pm. Although it was barely worth breaking a sweat over with any deal failing to get past an enquiry stage.
The new signings...
So four new arrivals through the door including youngster Stefan Bajic. His reputation in France suggests City may have a real coup on their hands but an ongoing wrist injury means this signing is one to reassess somewhere down the line.
Although it does pose an interesting question on how Pearson sees his goalkeeping department going forward. Dan Bentley's going to be No1 for the foreseeable but with his contract expiring next summer, there's that ongoing uncertainty.
Max O'Leary's lack of involvement in the two cup matches so far also hints that his game time this season is going to be little to none.
Wilson's arrival provided the biggest intrigue but again, it's been difficult to judge because of his lack of minutes. His goal and assist against Wycombe in the cup was a welcome sign of what he has to offer but an unfortunate knock picked up ahead of the new season forced Pearson's hand to play Sykes at wing-back as he hasn't looked back since.
His form has perhaps been one of the biggest positives of the season at wing-back. Despite his sending off against Luton Town and the three games on the sidelines that subsequently followed, Pearson wasted no time in throwing him back into the starting XI against Huddersfield.
His work rate, grit, determination and doggedness tick all the boxes that Pearson likes in a player and not many people would have predicted just how much of an impact he would have had on City's side at the beginning of this season.
For Wilson, he'll just have to remain patient because there's no doubt he'll become a big player for City. He's still only 22 and he's making the step up two divisions after all but after seeking and failing to find a resolution to the wing-back issue last season, Pearson now has welcome options at his disposal.
Then we come to Naismith who seems to have divided opinion of sorts. Having arrived as Luton's Player of the Year and on the back of City's horrendous defensive record last season, there was certainly pressure and expectancy on his shoulders.
There's no doubting he improves City at the back and he's worth his weight in wages just for his brilliant left-foot alone. His vocal nature highlights his leadership qualities and that will only help the likes of Rob Atkinson and Zak Vyner alongside him.
He also provides City with a greater emphasis on playing out of the back and with that will come with a couple of teething problems that have been evident. The ball to Vyner that led to Blackpool's equaliser was far from good enough, while he had a few hearts in mouths with the ball at his feet against Huddersfield.
Perhaps his performances are being magnified because he appears to shoulder more of the responsibility to help improve City's defensive record. Three goals conceded against Blackpool and Sunderland suggest he's not going to be the saviour but City have picked up three consecutive clean sheets at home and that can't be sniffed at.
There's also Tommy Conway. Yes, we know he's not a new signing but with his emergence at the start of this season, he certainly feels like one. The young striker doesn't look out of place in the Championship with five goals in six starts.
It's a brilliant beginning to his campaign and at the age of 20, there will undoubtedly be times when his minutes will need to be managed carefully but he adds another dimension to an attack that is arguably the best in the Championship.
The departures...
Getting faces out of the exit door was equally as important as bringing new players in.
Tyreeq Bakinson's move to Sheffield Wednesday proved an important one with Pearson previously admitting he was a source of negativity in the dressing room. Callum O'Dowda also left on a free transfer and considering his form in the second half of last season, it was widely agreed a move away would be best for both parties - just a shame it had to be Cardiff.
Robbie Cundy's switch to Barnsley on a free transfer may have scuppered one or two preparations heading into the new season. It was clear the club wanted to keep him on the books but without the promise of regular football, his decision to drop down to League One seems entirely justified.
Taylor Moore's move to Shrewsbury was another that came as little surprise but it was Kasey Palmer that was the most important out of the bunch. The attacking midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements in Pearson's plans and as one of the club's highest earners, it was key that they could help balance the books and use the funds to bring in new players.
Not only that, City pocketed a small fee from Coventry for his signature.
The concerns...
The one that stands out is the failure to bring in a central defender, a position that had been on the shortlist for the entirety of the summer.
Vyner's comeback into the starting XI can only be described as a phoenix rising from the ashes because he looked destined to be looking for pastures new at the end of last season. However, City's lack of transfer funds, and this is where we go back to the caveat of not selling one of Semenyo/Scott, meant Pearson had to put his faith in the central defender.
As it stands, that faith is being repaid and he is slowly earning the trust back from supporters following his start to the season. Understandably much of the spotlight has been on his performances and any errors he makes are magnified given his previous history.
Vyner's very much a confidence player and there's always that concern he's never too far away from a howler. The fact Pearson is selecting him over Timm Klose also suggests the Swiss defender's better days are behind him and he doesn't have the mobility to be playing on the right side of the defensive three.
Vyner's going to be in for a topsy-turvy season. There's no point pretending he's going to be one of the Championship's most reliable defenders and fans will need to take the rough with the smooth but it's how the player responds to any mistakes that could have a bearing on City's defensive record.
There's also the Han-Noah Massengo situation and there are positives and negatives to take away from a summer transfer saga that promised a lot but delivered very little.
On one hand, City have kept a hugely-talented midfielder for now and with the lack of options already in midfield, his presence will only enrich the quality on the pitch. He's also started the season in fine form with no evidence to suggest the uncertainty of his future has had any impact on his performances.
On the other hand, City are moving closer to losing him for free - which in effect, they can't particularly afford to do. Come January, he will be able to agree on a pre-contract with foreign clubs if he continues to opt against signing the extension that has been on the table for over a year.
While Massengo grabbed most of the headlines, he's not the only one who will find speculation over their futures at City uncertain because of their contracts. Bentley, Tomas Kalas, Jay Dasilva, Nahki Wells and Chris Martin all have deals expiring in the summer of 2023 which brings in the debate about the lack of squad depth.
It's been an ongoing comment made by the manager throughout the summer but a lack of resources at his disposal, it means the development of a number of young players could be stifled.
Even if the club wanted to send the likes of Sam Bell, Josh Owers and Dylan Kadji out on loan to gain senior experience, they may have to bite the bullet and play Under-21 football in case of an injury crisis.
In conclusion...
There can be absolutely no doubt whatsoever that City have enjoyed a hugely positive transfer window, encapsulated by keeping hold of Scott and Semenyo.
It was never going to be perfect considering the lack of transfer funds but Pearson has managed to create a culture on a shoestring budget that is reflected in the early performances at the beginning of the season, There's a togetherness in the squad and already that is huge progress in comparison to 12 months ago.
The lack of depth may become an issue down the line if and when City pick up injuries due to the relentless nature of the Championship. That's just part and parcel of it.
However, the new signings had added quality for next to nothing and by allowing certain players to leave Ashton Gate, there's only one direction City are heading in and that's up.
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