One of Southampton’s forwards has missed out on a move to Eredivisie giants Ajax as the deal was rejected by FIFA.
Ajax were looking to sign the Saints player on deadline day of the summer transfer window as a replacement for Steven Bergwijn.
The former Tottenham winger joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad on a three-year deal for a fee of €21 million (£17.7m).
The move left the Amsterdam team short of attackers so they were determined to bring in another player at the last hour.
They identified one of Russell Martin’s forwards as an option and went about completing the deal, only for it to be rejected by FIFA.
Southampton forward misses out on Ajax move
Everything was agreed for Kamaldeen Sulemana to join Ajax on a season-long loan with an option to buy for €20m (£17m).
The only issue was whether Ajax had submitted all the necessary paperwork before the 11:59 p.m. Eredivisie transfer deadline on Monday, 2 September.
FIFA spent the last two days investigating the matter and finally came to the conclusion that Ajax were too late.
“Ajax has just heard from FIFA that the planned transfer has not been approved,” they said in a statement. “That is a disappointment, but we understand the decision.”
Ajax will now have to wait until January to sign Sulemana – who could go until then without playing regular football.
The Ghana international is clearly not a key part of Martin’s plans and will probably find himself behind the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Adam Armstrong and Maxwel Cornet in the packing order.
Kamaldeen Sulemana’s Southampton career
Sulemana joined the Saints from Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais midway through the 2022/23 campaign for a club-record fee of £22m.
He made his debut on 4 February 2023 in a 3-0 defeat to Brentford and did not score his first Premier League goal until the 4-4 draw with Liverpool on 28 May 2023.
The 22-year-old failed to find the back of the net last season as Southampton were promoted from the Championship.
His overall record for the club is an underwhelming two goals and four assists in 44 games in all competitions.
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