Hakim
Ziyech's loan move to Paris Saint-Germain from Chelsea has collapsed with
Ligue 1 unwilling to ratify the transfer following the late submission of
documents.
PSG lodged an appeal to the Professional Football League (LFP)'s legal
committee, alleging that the Stamford Bridge side had initially sent through
the incorrect paperwork after the terms of an agreement had been finalised.
When it was flagged, they claim Chelsea sent the right documents twice but
without a signature. When the correct version was received, the deadline had
already passed.
The LFP met at 10:30am local time on Wednesday morning to study the
paperwork and discuss the case. They decided against signing the loan move
off.
The French giants are angered by the administrative gaffes which affected
their outgoings, like Ismael Gharbi's temporary switch to Nice.
Ziyech had passed his medical and was waiting in Paris on Tuesday to be
unveiled.
Sky Sports News understand Chelsea were sent the loan agreement pre-deadline
and asked to sign it. They signed it and sent the email back, but later
discovered that it had not been delivered because of an "unforeseen
technical issue".
PSG sent Chelsea the agreement again and Chelsea signed it and sent it back
at exactly 11pm.
How the 'shambles' unfolded...
Sky Sports News' chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
"Ziyech cannot believe his move to PSG has fallen through. The player is
said to be "incandescent". He was messaging Todd Boehly on Tuesday night
pleading to get the deal done.
"The player is still stranded in Paris and is absolutely desperate to join
PSG, even willing to pay his own money to get the deal done.
"One source in Paris had told Sky Sports: 'Last night was an absolute
shambles. Chelsea will not darken PSG's doorstep ever again. This is not how
you do business or treat a player.'
"At lunchtime of Tuesday, the player arrived in Paris with all the procedure
set up for a loan deal with just a final discussion on the option to buy or
not and fee to be agreed.
"Ziyech was at PSG offices from early evening onwards when he and his agent
started to get concerned with Chelsea, but there was no indication the deal
wouldn't happen.
"The player started texting Boehly directly pleading to hurry up, and that
he was happy and even contributing personally to the financials to get the
deal done. Eventually, this was agreed despite the 'shambles'."
Chelsea flex financial muscles… again
Sky Sports' Nick Wright:
"Having spent north of £300m, more than five times as much as any other
Premier League club, Chelsea better hope they are winners. Todd Boehly's
assault on the transfer market demands scrutiny but what's certain is that
their squad is considerably stronger for it.
"A British-record £106.8m deal for Enzo Fernandez, following a protracted
transfer saga, capped another extraordinary window for the Blues, the
Argentine being one of eight new faces.
The spending splurge takes their outlay for the season past £600m and leaves
head coach Graham Potter with selection headaches all over the pitch, but
there is plenty for supporters to get excited about as Chelsea prepare for
the second half of the campaign.
The Premier League's record
buys
Enzo Fernandez - Benfica to Chelsea, January 2023 - £106.8m
Jack Grealish - Aston Villa to Manchester City, summer 2021 - £100m
Romelu Lukaku - Inter Milan to Chelsea, summer 2021 - £97.5m
Romelu Lukaku - Everton to Manchester United, summer 2017 - £90m
Paul Pogba - Juventus to Manchester United, summer 2016 - £89m
Mykhailo Mudryk - Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea, January 2022 - £88.5m
|
"Mykhailo Mudryk, an £88.5m signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, was electrifying
on his debut against Liverpool, while Joao Felix's performance against
Fulham - before the sending off that marred it - showed he could have a
transformative impact too.
"Noni Madueke will hope to showcase his huge talent, his £29m arrival from
PSV Eindhoven equipping Chelsea with an entirely new front three, while
Benoit Badiashile has already slotted into the defence and big things are
expected for Andrey Santos, Malo Gusto and David Datro Fofana.
"The financials are mind-boggling. The lengthy contracts too. But the
overriding feeling among fans is one of excitement and understandably so."
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