Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri will remain at Fenerbahce after a proposed deadline-day move to Saudi giants Al-Ittihad dramatically collapsed due to an administrative error.
The deal, which also involved former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté moving in the opposite direction to Turkey, appeared to be on track after both clubs reached agreements with the players and successfully completed medical examinations.
However, Fenerbahce revealed in an official statement that the transfer fell through due to an administrative error on Al-Ittihad’s part.
According to the Turkish club, all required procedures — including medicals, official approvals and the uploading of documents to FIFA’s Transfer Matching System (TMS) — were completed before the deadline.
The process stalled after Al-Ittihad reportedly entered incorrect information into the system, preventing the transfer from being finalised.
Fenerbahce said they requested an extension and contacted FIFA in an effort to resolve the issue, but Al-Ittihad failed to complete the necessary steps and did not provide any explanation. As a result, the proposed swap deal collapsed.
Despite successful negotiations and cleared medicals for both players, the paperwork error proved decisive. En-Nesyri will now continue the season with Fenerbahce, where he has been a key figure since joining last year, scoring 38 goals for the club.
The failed transfer represents a significant setback for Al-Ittihad, who were looking to bolster their attacking options following the unexpected departure of Karim Benzema to rivals Al Hilal.
It also raises fresh questions about the club’s handling of administrative processes in major transfers, particularly under FIFA’s strict deadline regulations.
Meanwhile, Kanté remains an integral part of Al-Ittihad’s midfield, as both clubs are now forced to adjust their plans for the remainder of the season following the collapse of the deal.
