Deportivo La Coruna defender Alvaro Arbeloa, 24, and promising Malaga youngster Francisco Manuel Duran, 18, both wrapped up moves to Anfield within hours of the window closing at midnight on Tuesday.

Liverpool also secured the registration of Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano after FIFA ruled that he could sign for his third club in less than a year.

Mascherano joined West Ham from Brazilian side Corinthians on the last deadline day at the end of August.

The World Cup star's ability to play for Liverpool however remains subject to final approval from the English Premier League, who have asked for more time to examine the deal.

Arbeloa, who cost Liverpool 2.6 million pounds, admitted the move had taken him by surprise.

"Until yesterday I wasn't sure whether I was going to leave or not," he said. "My agent told me the deal was very advanced and I was then told that the deal had been reached between both clubs.

"For me this is a beautiful challenge and I hope everything goes well. It's a huge leap for me."

Duran only made his first team debut for Malaga earlier this season and has secured a first professional contract with his move to Merseyside.

"It's a unique opportunity and I couldn't let it go by," the teenager said. "I have spoken with Rafa Benitez, and I believe that this is the best option for me.

The highest value deal on deadline day saw England defender Matthew Upson move from Birmingham to West Ham for a fee of six million pounds that could rise to 7.5 million depending on appearance.

Promotion-chasing Birmingham had tried hard to hang on to the 27-year-old former Arsenal centreback, but his determination to move on ensured that the deal went through with just hours left until the expiry of the January transfer window.

Upson has agreed a four-and-a-half year contract at Upton Park and will go straight into the squad for the Hammers' Premiership clash at Aston Villa on Saturday.

The east London club are in deep trouble in the Premiership after winning just one of their seven league matches since manager Alan Curbishley took over from Alan Pardew in December.

Arsenal paid Luton two million pounds to sign him in 1997 but the defender never convinced Arsene Wenger that he was worth a regular first team place. He moved to Birmingham in January 2003 and won the first of his seven England caps five months later.

Birmingham's loss of Upson was partly offset by the acquisition of midfielder Sebastian Larsson, whose loan deal from Arsenal was made permanent at a cost of one million pounds (1.95 million dollars).

Aston Villa won the prize for going closest to the deadline with the one million pound signing of Celtic's Shaun Maloney being completed at just five minutes to midnight.

Manchester City signed former England left-back Michael Ball from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.

The 27-year-old has signed a short-term contract until the end of the season. He becomes manager Stuart Pearce's second signing of the transfer window, following Djamel Abdoun's move from French club Ajaccio.

Watford signed 25-year-old Scotland midfielder Gareth Williams from Leicester for an undisclosed fee.

Stoke captain Michael Duberry, the former Leeds and Chelsea defender, completed an 800,000-pound move to Reading.

Bolton signed midfielder David Thompson from Portsmouth for a nominal fee, making him the third new arrival at the Reebok Stadium after Lubomir Michalik and Zoltan Harsanyi.

Bottom side Watford snapped up three new players on the final day of trading, lifting their total number of January acquisitions to eight.

French duo Johan Cavalli and Cedric Avinel, a midfielder and centreback respectively, were joined at Vicarage Road by Brazilian midfielder Douglas Rinaldi, who has agreed a six-month loan from Brazilian side Veranopolis EC.