Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City have reached a deadline-day agreement for Jamie Ward and Lee Tomlin to swap clubs until the end of 2017-18.
In a surprise late twist to a busy day's activity in the second tier, the Bluebirds agreed to let their marquee summer signing leave in return for Northern Ireland international Ward.
Both players will now see out the season elsewhere, with Tomlin failing to make any real impact at the Cardiff City Stadium since arriving from Bristol City for a fee of around £4m.
Ward has been restricted to just eight Championship appearances this term, meanwhile, each of which have come from the bench.
Cardiff also completed the signing of striker Gary Madine from Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday evening, making it four new additions in total this month.
