5️⃣ transfers that collapsed at the last minute ❌ | OneFootball

Like Yan Diomandé’s move to PSG, which fell through even though everything seemed almost in place for it to go through, others have also collapsed at the very last moments of the transfer window.

So here’s a look back at some of the most memorable examples.

Hakim Ziyech: from Chelsea to PSG

Let’s go back to the start of 2023, when Paris had a very quiet winter transfer window with no arrivals at all. However, the Parisians decided to make a late move and set their sights on Hakim Ziyech, who was struggling at Chelsea.

The two clubs agreed on a loan deal for the Moroccan international. The only problem was that the LFP never approved the transfer, as the player’s contract arrived too late.

PSG, for its part, blamed Chelsea for being negligent in sending the documents. In the end, Paris did not sign a single player that winter.

David De Gea: from Manchester United to Real Madrid

Speaking of administrative mix-ups, this is one that made headlines in Spain for many days.

While Real Madrid and Manchester United had agreed on the transfer of the Spanish goalkeeper, the fax confirming De Gea’s arrival came through at 12:02 a.m., three minutes after the transfer window had closed.

The move never happened, and the keeper therefore stayed at Manchester United until 2023, when his contract expired.

Luis Suarez: from FC Barcelona to Juventus

One of the wildest stories of recent years. While his move to Juventus was almost sealed in 2020, it was still dependent on a naturalization process. To complete it, the Uruguayan striker had to take an Italian language test, except it was allegedly rigged.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the forward even admitted before Italian magistrates that he had received the test questions and answers by email a week before taking it. Luis Suarez ultimately signed for Atlético Madrid.

Park Chu-Young: from AS Monaco to Lille

This may be the most iconic transfer-window saga in French football. In the summer of 2011, Lille were set to sign Park Chu-Young from Monaco. Everything was done, the player had completed the first part of his medical and was due to finish it the next day before signing his contract.

However, when a club representative arrived at the hotel early in the morning to pick up Park, neither the player, nor his agent, nor the translator was there. They had left during the night without even paying for the hotel room.

The reason? Arsène Wenger had simply snatched the player away from Lille by offering more money to Park and AS Monaco. A low blow that did not necessarily pay off, as the striker played only seven matches in four years with Arsenal.

Filip Kostic: from Frankfurt to Lazio Rome

In the summer of 2021, Lazio were desperately looking for a winger and set their sights on Filip Kostic. Negotiations were tough and dragged on into the final days of the transfer window.

But the move eventually fell through because the Roman club’s executives reportedly sent their offer to the wrong email address. But the story does not end there, because according to Sky Deutschland and the player’s agent, the German club’s executives had deliberately provided an incorrect address so the transfer would not go through.

As a result, the summer transfer window closed in the meantime and the move never happened.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

📸 JAVIER SORIANO