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Andros Townsend finally signs contract after claiming ‘I don’t know who owns me’ after being ‘stuck’ in country

Home> Football> Football News

Published 07:48 13 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Andros Townsend finally signs contract after claiming ‘I don’t know who owns me’ after being ‘stuck’ in country

Andros Townsend was left in limbo but has now put pen to paper and is available to play.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

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Andros Townsend has finally completed a move after a worrying period where he was left in limbo and "didn't know" who owned him.

The 33-year-old turned out for Luton in their first season back in the Premier League following successful trials.

He signed a new long-term contract in January and featured in their first game of the current season back in the Championship.

But Townsend then left the Hatters for a new challenge in the Turkish Super Lig.

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The former Crystal Palace winger penned a deal with Antalyaspor but endured a "crazy couple of weeks" as he could not be registered due to a transfer ban imposed by FIFA.

According to the BBC, the club were unable to register players as they owed money to two former players.

And it resulted in a messy situation for Townsend, who was allowed to train but not play in the Turkish Super Lig.

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

"So the contract is signed with Antalyaspor," he said on BBC 5 Live last month.

"They can’t officially register me, they can’t announce me, because they have a transfer ban, so I’m literally just stuck in Antalyaspor, just training.

“I don't know who owns me. I don’t know where my contact is, so yeah, that’s me. I can’t play, they can’t register me, they can’t officially announce me because they’ve got a transfer ban, similar to what Barcelona have, at times.

“I think they’ve got a dispute with just one player who’s taking them to court, so until that’s settled, they can’t bring in any new players. But every time I ask them, they say, ‘the contract is signed, you’re our player.’

“But nothing’s been announced. I can’t play. I’m literally in a hotel at the training ground just training and keeping my head down.”

Fortunately for Townsend everything has been resolved and he is now officially an Antalyaspor player.

Image: X/@Antalyaspor
Image: X/@Antalyaspor

The club's registration ban has been lifted and he is free to play for Antalyaspor, who are currently 11th in the league after four games.

They announced his signing on social media with a series of pictures of Townsend in his new colours, with the caption: "Mission completed".

Commenting on the news of him penning a two-year deal, Townsend took to Instagram and wrote: "A new chapter, can't wait to get started."

Over the international break he kept himself busy by providing co-commentary on England's win over the Republic of Ireland for ITV and even cracked a joke about his predicament at the time.

Townsend has racked up 291 appearances in the Premier League while being capped 13 times for England, scoring three goals.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: England, Turkish Super Lig, Turkey

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

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@joshlawless_

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