Orlando City and USMNT forward Duncan McGuire’s transfer to Blackburn Rovers broke down due to an “administrative error”, the English club said in a statement on Wednesday.
McGuire was due to join the Championship club on an initial loan until the summer with an option to buy. The two clubs had initially agreed to a $4m permanent deal in the waning days of the January transfer window, but the transfer was cancelled with McGuire mid-flight from Orlando’s training camp in Mexico.
Blackburn and Orlando reengaged in negotiations for a loan deal in the final hours of the window. “All of the necessary signed paperwork had been completed prior to 10pm on Thursday 1 February, however due to an administrative error, the forms were not processed within the prescribed time,” Blackburn said in their statement.
Blackburn thought they had clicked “submit paperwork” on the English Football League’s transfer system before the deadline but had hit “save”, according to the Athletic.
Blackburn have submitted an appeal to the EFL. “Detailed discussions with legal representatives and the relevant football authorities have taken place over the past few days to try to reach an urgent and positive resolution to the matter,” the club said. “The club’s lawyers have prepared the required papers and sent to the EFL Board, who will consider the case on Thursday 8 February.”
McGuire will remain in the UK until the resolution of Blackburn’s appeal. If the EFL does not sanction the transaction, McGuire will return to Orlando City for the start of the MLS season, with a view to moving to Blackburn in the summer.
“Should the appeal be refused then Blackburn Rovers will attempt to reach a pre-contract agreement with Orlando City over the coming weeks to enable the player to officially join the club on a permanent basis when the 2024 summer transfer window opens,” Blackburn said.
If the proposed loan falls through, McGuire will be left in limbo. He was the breakout player of the 2023 MLS season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions in his debut professional campaign. He was drafted No 6 overall in the 2022 MLS draft and has quickly risen to be one of the most promising forwards in the league. He has represented the US at Under-23 level and made his senior USMNT debut in January.
McGuire is eligible for the upcoming US Olympic roster and is expected to be a focal point of the side. But if the deal to Blackburn falls through and he is forced to wait until the summer to move, he could struggle for minutes with Orlando before Paris.
Orlando have already worked on deals to replace McGuire, including reaching a permanent agreement with Atalanta for Colombia forward Luis Muriel.
With the addition of Muriel, McGuire could be made available to other MLS clubs on loan until he is able to complete his move to England.
