UD Las Palmas are reportedly only waiting for FIFA to authorise the transfer of Jonathan Calleri from West Ham United. Even though the Spanish side is said to have an agreement to sign the player, official rules could still stop the move.
As reported by La Provincia today, FIFA don’t allow a player to make appearances for more than two clubs in the same season.
Having left São Paulo in July, Calleri returned to Maldonado, where he didn’t play, and then signed for West Ham. So the striker belonged to two clubs where he did enter the pitch and one other where he did not.
What makes the story more interesting is the information that Calleri would have agreed with Las Palmas. Brazilian reports frequently say he rejected a move to the club, as his desire would be to return to São Paulo.
FIFA’s decision will reportedly be made in the ‘next few hours’.
Our understanding of the rule is that Calleri would have had to actually play for Maldonado to prevent a further transfer. Maybe the Canary Island press is trying to work out why the player hasn’t signed for them from West Ham yet… whereas in Brazil they say it’s simply because he doesn’t want to.