FIFA have reportedly given West Ham United attacker Said Benrahma the go-ahead to complete his transfer to Lyon despite the January transfer window slamming shut.
According to football journalist Ben Jacobs via his X account, West Ham United winger Said Benrahma has been “cleared” to join Lyon after late deadline day drama saw his transfer collapse.
The Algerian international was left betwixt and between late on deadline day when a £15 million deal to take him to Lyon fell through unexpectedly. The player had spent much of Thursday undergoing a medical in London and finalising the switch to France, but the clubs were unable to seal the deal, leaving Lyon scratching their heads in dismay.
After fending off a late hijack from Premier League side Fulham in the final hours of deadline-day, the Ligue 1 outfit had planned to unveil Benrahma live on television, but things quickly went wrong, despite Lyon having entered the required information on FIFA’s Transfer Management System (TMS) by 10.30 p.m. Thursday night.
Lyon later accused the Hammers of botching the paperwork in a strongly-worded official statement, saying West Ham had demonstrated a “deep lack of respect” before describing the English club’s conduct as incomprehensible behaviour.
West Ham, for their part, feel they were at a huge disadvantage with a game on deadline day against Bournemouth, meaning the club’s resources were stretched at a critical moment in the season.
The Hammers’ looked set for an eventful final few hours of the winter transfer window, as they were in talks over the exits of Fornals, Said Benrahma and Maxwel Cornet. But in a stunning twist, they had “IT issues” that prevented them from entering the moves on the FIFA transfer system before the 11 p.m. deadline.
Lyon were furious about the errors and urged FIFA to launch an investigation into West Ham’s actions. The world football governing body has now seemingly opened the door for Benrahma to join Lyon, even though the transfer window has already shut down due to the computer problems being out of the Hammers’ control.
There are still a few administrative procedures to do before the deal can be concluded, as claimed by Jacobs.
Jacobs wrote on X handle: “Now the FA must send the International Transfer Certificate to France.
“FIFA deemed the ‘engager’ [Lyon] followed protocol and inputted information correctly, and usually when this is the case a transfer can be salvaged.”
Benrahma joined West Ham in a £25 million transfer from Brentford in 2021 and has since made 155 appearances for David Moyes’ side.
The 28-year-old winger, who scored the opening goal of West Ham’s historic Europa Conference League final triumph over Fiorentina last term, has blown hot and cold over the course of his career at the London Stadium and made just 13 Premier League appearances in the Premier League so far this season, registering a single assist.
