- 5 players stuck in 2025/26 summer transfer
- winners and losers of failed moves
- what next?
The 2025/2026 summer transfer was a very busy one, especially across top European football clubs. In a bid to force moves, strengthen squad and also get rid of the surplus to requirement, the window gave a blend of surprises and disappointment in the last minute.
Eko Hot Blog reports 5 players whose transfer met disappointment as some of them tried to force move out of their current clubs.
- Lookman Ademola
The Nigerian International joined Isak and Wissa by making clear his desire to leave Atlanta.
The club however, maintained their position of not selling the super eagles player to Italian rivals after Ademola’s accusation of efforts to frustrate his move.
He went on strike and didn’t turn up for training, earning him the anger of fans who demanded he honour the shirt.
Despite the two bid rejections from Inter Milan for Lookman, there seemed a chance the super eagles winger would have gotten a move on deadline day after reported interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Tottenham.
But a deal didn’t get done, and Lookman will now either stay with Atlanta or move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia where the window is still open.
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- Marc Guehi
Not many players have so close to getting a move before seeing it fall through at the last hurdle as Marc Guehi did on deadline day. Crystal Palace had agreed a deal with Liverpool, and Guehi had reportedly started undergoing medical
However, the Palace skipper’s move collapsed at the last minute as they were unable to sort a replacement signing, with their top target, Igor Julio, opted to join Westham instead.
Unlike some other players, Guehi did not try to force through a move and has played 90 minutes in all six of Palace’s games so far this season. His stay appears to be a huge plus for the club.
meanwhile, there are concerns about his future as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
- Raheem Sterling
Chelsea had one of the busiest summer, after signing a number of players and shipping more out. Yet, Raheem Sterling remains at Stamford Bridge.
The England International signed in 2022 on a five-year deal, and has struggled to impress regularly at Chelsea and last summer joined Arsenal on an 11th-hour loan deal.
Though linked with Fulham before the closure of the window, but the move didn’t materialize, leaving sterling frustrated.
The out of favour blues man has however been training away from the first team.
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- Emi Martinez
The Aston Villa skipper wanted a move to Manchester United on a deadline day.
The deal seemed the best for the Argentine until the red devils turned to 23 year old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
Martinez is now set to stay at Aston Villa, where he is under contract until 2029, and will likely come straight back into the side to replace stand-in Marco Bizot.
- Tyrique George
Chelsea wonderkid move to Fulham collapsed at the last minute.
The two West London rivals had agreed a £22 million deal for the highly rated 19-year-old in the remaining hours of the summer transfer window.
