Chalobah Deal Collapses as Bordeaux Blocked by FIFA Three-Club Rule
Bordeaux, France — Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah will not be joining Bordeaux this season, after the French Football Federation (FFF) and the league ruled out the possibility of registering the player due to FIFA regulations.
The 20-year-old had been lined up for a loan move to the Ligue 1 side during the January transfer window. However, the deal hit a regulatory snag: Chalobah had already featured in two separate teams this season—first in the reserve league for Chelsea, and later during a loan spell at Burnley, where he made four appearances.
Under FIFA rules, a player is not permitted to appear for more than two clubs in official competitions during a single season. That means Chalobah is ineligible to register with a third team before the end of the current campaign.
“From the moment the FFF and the League informed us that approval was impossible, there was no more hope,” Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud told Sud-Ouest. “The Chalobah case, for us, is therefore closed.”
The collapse of the move comes as a significant blow for Bordeaux, who had hoped to reinforce their midfield options after missing out on Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo, who instead joined Crystal Palace on loan.
Chalobah, a product of Chelsea’s academy, remains highly regarded but has struggled to secure a regular first-team spot at Stamford Bridge. His development has included several loan stints across the English Championship and Premier League.
The failed transfer mirrors a similar case involving Hatem Ben Arfa, whose move to OGC Nice was also blocked by FIFA rules earlier this season due to appearances with Newcastle United’s reserves and Hull City.
