EFL club given immediate January transfer embargo after ‘tinpot’ administrative delay

Cardiff City have been placed under transfer embargo by the EFL after failing to submit their annual accounts.

The League One side will not be able to sign any players in January until the situation is resolved.

Getty

Cardiff, who are currently top of the third tier, have said the embargo is down to a ‘short administrative delay’.

They informed the BBC that it should be lifted by the end of next week, although the EFL are yet to comment.

Under EFL rules, clubs are obliged to submit their annual accounts for the financial year 2024/25 by December 31 – and it would appear Cardiff failed to meet that deadline.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire was asked on social media whether the embargo was caused by an ‘oversight’ and responded: “If so, [that’s] a bit tinpot.”

The Bluebirds have also insisted it will not affect their transfer plans this month despite seeing a number of players leave already.

Luey Giles, Will Spiers and Dakarai Mafico have gone out on loan, while goalkeeper Jak Alnwick joined Huddersfield Town in a permanent deal.

Manager Brian Barry-Murphy recently admitted the squad needed more depth in the full-back position.

Speaking earlier this week, he said: “Joel [Bagan] has done very, very well for us this season. But Luey Giles has gone on loan, so that’s an area of our squad that we are aware that we may need some help in.”

Despite a need to strengthen, Barry-Murphy admitted in the same interview that Cardiff’s main priority is keeping their star talents.

He added: “The main focus has been, if you’re speaking to Patrick [Deboys, Cardiff’s head of recruitment] a lot, his title is head of recruitment, but really a lot of his focus from my point of view has to be on securing the players that we have and rate so highly.”

Getty

With Cardiff unable to recruit players until their administrative issue is resolved, they have made headway in securing the long-term futures of some key figures.

Right-back Ronan Kpakio penned a new four-year deal at the Cardiff City Stadium in September, while highly-rated defender Dylan Lawlor signed a new three-year contract in the summer.

More to follow.