Exclusive: West Ham transfer ban update after £7m+ controversy
West Ham’s nightmare deal for Nikola Vlasic has taken a new twist in recent days with a potential transfer ban now back on the table.
The Irons signed Vlasic, who now plays for Torino, in 2021 and a second payment of around £7.2million was due to CSKA Moscow in July 2022 – but could not be paid due to UK sanctions on Russia.
In 2023, FIFA ordered West Ham to pay CSKA that figure or face a ban on registering newly signed players – but the club successfully appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
CSKA Moscow said on 13 June it could file an appeal with Switzerland’s supreme court as the three-year dispute rumbles on.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has had his say on the threat of a transfer ban looming large at the London Stadium once again.
West Ham won’t be concerned over Vlasic controversy, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted West Ham legally cannot pay the money and will not be concerned about being sanctioned.
Vlasic played just 31 times for West Ham, scoring once and adding two assists.
Wyness claimed the Irons may even be benefitting from the interest on that money, which he suggested will have been set aside for when sanctions are lifted.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 38 | 53 | 0 |
| 13 | Everton | 38 | 48 | -2 |
| 14 | West Ham | 38 | 43 | -16 |
| 15 | Man United | 38 | 42 | -10 |
| 16 | Wolves | 38 | 42 | -15 |
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “This is a geopolitical situation.
“Going back to Everton, we lost out big time with the Russian sponsors that we had because of the geopolitical situation – the banning of sponsors and Russian money.
“For West Ham, I suppose it’s lucky for them in a sense they got caught in that situation. And there was around £7-8million.
“I believe that was frozen because they could not legally pay it to the bank. CSKA then went and said, look, they owe us the money. But the authorities eventually decided they can’t make a payment if it’s going to make the club break the law.
“West Ham have had that verdict on their side. I’m sure the money’s in escrow somewhere.
“They’re getting the benefit of that money and the interest right now. West Ham, I don’t think, will be unduly concerned as long as they’ve made accounting for it within their books.
“I don’t see that there’s much West Ham can do about it. They’re not at fault. They’re not saying they’re not paying. They’re just saying they can’t pay because it’s against the law. And I think that’s fair.”
West Ham set sights on signing Serie A star
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (19 June) that West Ham are among a number of clubs tracking Genoa defender Aaron Martin.
Martin, 28, enjoyed an outstanding season with Genoa last term and was amongst the most creative defenders in Europe – laying on eight goals in 36 Serie A games.
West Ham are in the market for left-back reinforcements following the departure of Aaron Cresswell.
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