Lassana Diarra’s Move to West Ham Collapses After FIFA Blocks Transfer
Lassana Diarra will not be joining West Ham United after all. Despite reports indicating the former Real Madrid midfielder was close to a move to the Premier League, FIFA has intervened to block the transfer due to Lokomotiv Moscow’s refusal to release the player.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce expressed his frustration after his side’s 0–0 draw with Southampton:
“We’ve been looking for weeks for the right deal and when we found it, we’re told it’s no longer possible to get the paperwork. We’ve wasted our time. It’s a shame because he would have been an important player for us.”
Diarra, who had been training independently after a dispute with Lokomotiv, was hopeful of restarting his career in England. However, the Russian club’s ongoing refusal to issue a release has now left his future uncertain.
The 29-year-old has previously played for Chelsea, Arsenal, Portsmouth, and Real Madrid, and was seen as a potential boost to West Ham’s midfield depth for the remainder of the season.
