10 Most Shocking Hijacked Transfer Deals In Football History
With the transfer window active, here are 10 instances of clubs getting embarrassed in the market.
In football, transfer deals simply can't be considered safe or foregone until a player's signature finds itself on the requisite line below a club contract, no matter how many agreements are made. Certain clubs have learned all too well just how embarrassing it can be when they officially announce deals with players only for them to sign for other teams.
This transfer window has produced two notable examples so far and there could be a few more to follow, given the competition for top players in the market nowadays.
Premier League sides, especially, don't have much time left as their window shuts before the start of the season this year due to a new agreement. So you'd do well to expect a huge rush approaching the final day of the window.
With regards to deals getting hijacked, it's something that happens all the time and it's become part of football. Over the years, there have been some shocking u-turns made by players whose clubs agree over deals, as well as players who shake hands over terms themselves.
Unfortunately, there's no surefire way for clubs to safeguard against such occurring from time to time. But, on the flipside, these embarrassments don't come around too often.
10. Jorginho To Man City
The Brazilian midfielder was at the heart of Napoli's success last season. Operating as a regista under Maurizio Sarri, Jorginho pulled the strings in the middle of the park and sprayed passes about the pitch with ease.
The 26-year-old's performances caught the eye of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who listed him as the club's priority signing for the summer. A deal was agreed with Napoli, and the player was also understood to have agreed terms with the Premier League champions, that is until Chelsea decided to interfere.
They made quick work of negotiations with the midfielder, who is believed to have been swayed by the prospect of living in London, plus the £50m offer (with a further £7m in add-ons, per WAGNH) Chelsea made to Napoli was higher than what was previously agreed over with City.
When the news of Jorginho being on the verge of joining The Blues broke, City reportedly dismissed it as a ruse, yet the metronomic star was unveiled as a Chelsea player in a matter of days, signing for the FA Cup winners on the same day as Sarri, who will hope that the player can replicate last season's performances at Stamford Bridge.