Luton’s Andros Townsend FINALLY completes his move to Antalyaspor after Turkish transfer ban is lifted… as the winger’s nightmare month in limbo comes to an end

Andros Townsend has finally completed his move from Luton Town to Antalyaspor after the Turkish club’s transfer registration embargo was lifted.

Townsend signed with Antalyaspor in August, but the Turkish club were unable to sign the 33-year-old player due to a FIFA transfer ban.

The ban meant that Antalyaspor were unable to announce Townsend’s arrival and he was not allowed to play for the club, although he was allowed to train with the squad.

Now that the Turkish club’s registration ban has been lifted, Antalyaspor and Townsend can finally confirm the transfer.

Townsend wrote on social media: ‘A new chapter… can’t wait to get started’, while Antalyaspor wrote: ‘Mission accomplished’ after the initial announcement.

Both the Turkish club and Townsend confirmed the news via their social media platforms

Townsend, who joined Luton as a free agent in October 2023 and made 32 appearances last season, scoring once, will be delighted if the deal is completed.

Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live in August about the Turkish club’s registration ban: ‘I’ve had a crazy few weeks.

‘Three days before the start of the season at Luton, I get a call from Antalyaspor. They say: ‘We have an offer for you, but you have 24 hours to respond because there is a transfer ban coming and we have to get you before the transfer ban starts.’

‘So, no time to think about it. I managed to negotiate to be in the first game for Luton, played ten minutes in that and then it was literally all signed, all done. Then we missed the deadline by a couple of hours.

‘So the contract is signed with Antalyaspor. They can’t register me officially, they can’t announce me, because they have a transfer ban, so I’m literally stuck in Antalyaspor, just training.

‘I don’t know who owns me. I don’t know where my contact is, so yes, that’s me. I can’t play, they can’t register me, they can’t officially announce me because they have a transfer ban, similar to what Barcelona sometimes has.

Townsend joined Antalyaspor from Luton earlier in August, but the Turkish club were unable to register him earlier due to the ban

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

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

Townsend, 33, started out at Tottenham, where he made 93 appearances, and was then loaned out nine times before joining Newcastle in 2016.

Townsend also played for Crystal Palace and Everton before signing for Luton. He scored three goals in 13 appearances for England between 2013 and 2016.