Immediate past English champions Leicester City have been dealt a big blow after world football’s governing body, FIFA, rejected the English Football Association (FA)’s request to veto Adrien Silva’s move to the club.

Leicester City and Sporting Lisbon agreed a £22m for the transfer of the Portuguese international midfielder but the move didn’t materialise after FIFA said the Foxes submitted the paperwork for the transfer after the August 31 transfer deadline had expired by 14 seconds.

FIFA thereafter withheld his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) so that Leicester City won’t be able to register him.

With the latest development, Leicester City have to wait until the January transfer reopens before they can add Silva to their playing squad.

Adrien Silva was a direct replacement for England international Danny Drinkwater, who left for champions Chelsea in a £35m deal on deadline day. The club’s inability to secure his transfer now means they have to stick with Wilfred Ndidi, Matty James and Andy King as their midfield options till January.