Wilfried Zaha BLOCKED from making Premier League return due to little-known rule but could still make shock transfer
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WILFRIED ZAHA could be BLOCKED from a return to the Premier League in January by a little-known rule. But a shock transfer may still be on the cards. Zaha, 32, left Crystal Palace at the end of the 2022-23 season and joined Galatasaray. But after a superb opening campaign in Turkey, scoring ten in 42 appearances, he only featured as a substitute in the 5-0 Turkish Super Cup defeat to Besiktas on August 3 before being shipped out on loan to Lyon.
![[Wilfried Zaha's hopes of a Premier League return could be dashed by Fifa rules]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/8b796f35-9ed1-4b8d-a99c-4d55b8552c54.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
However, his stint in France has not gone according to plan. The Ivorian winger has managed just 112 minutes of football across six matches, assisting one and starting one. And that means Lyon could terminate the loan deal and send Zaha back to Turkey. But Galatasaray could be open to letting the former Manchester United man join another team.
Palace may have been willing to consider a loan swoop for their academy graduate - and speculation accelerated when he was in attendance for last week's 5-1 thrashing by Arsenal. But it appears Zaha - who has 458 Palace appearances - may not be allowed to play for a team in the Premier League.
![[Zaha watched his old team lose 5-1 to Arsenal]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/former-crystal-palace-player-wilfried-959040729.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS. Fifa rule 5.4 states: "Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. "During this period, a player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs. "As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season, provided they have fully complied with their contractual obligations towards their previous clubs, and provided that the provisions relating to registration periods and the minimum length of a contract are respected.".
![[The winger was sent out on loan after one year at Galatasaray]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wilfried-zaha-galatasaray-enters-pitch-919316272.jpg?strip=all&w=742)
