The 2024 summer transfer window has turned out to be quite a quiet one so far by the standards set in previous years, but as well as some high profile deals going through, there have also been a few strange ones and Andros Townsend’s Turkish switch firmly falls into that category.
The 33 year old former Tottenham Hotspur Academy graduate mostly made a name for himself at Crystal Palace with 168 Premier League appearances for them between 2016 and 2021, but after a more disappointing spell at Everton, he better got himself back on track having made the switch to Luton Town as they had been newly promoted to the top flight of English football in the summer of 2023.
Having initially signed a short term contract at Kenilworth Road, at the turn of the New Year the 13 capped former England international signed a new long term contract with them. Despite featuring as a late substitute in Luton’s Championship opener against Burnley on August 12th, a deal was agreed that would see him make the switch to Turkish side Antalyaspor but it is fair to say that it has gone a little bit pear shaped – with the winger now saying he is not entirely sure who now owns him as despite signing a new contract with them, they are unable to register him as a FIFA ban has come into force as they owe money to two former players.
Speaking to the media this week, Townsend explained he could train with his new side but whilst he cannot be registered with them it means he cannot play or even be announced officially as a signing. The club themselves are said to be addressing the oversight, and when the debts are paid they plan to complete his transfer soon after. The ban currently applies for three transfer windows – meaning he could strictly be in limbo until January 2026, although it is highly unlikely that this would be his actual outcome as a solution would be found.
“I’m stuck in Antalyaspor just training, I don’t know who owns me, I don’t know where my contract is.”
It is certainly a strange situation, and incredibly rare as it pertains to effecting English players, but Townsend did acknowledge he knew what he was getting himself into and it all boiled down to getting the paperwork in ahead of their ban coming into force, and simply put they failed to do that by ‘a couple of hours’. He even said he saw all the red flags but still felt that it would be the right move for him because it would be a fresh experience.
With the deal effectively done, the Turkish window does not close until September 13 and one way or another Townsend will be sorted within the next month. But it will be one to follow simply to see how things work out for him.