Nottingham Forest terminated the contract of Jonjo Shelvey before he joined Turkish club Caykur Rizespor on a free transfer, contrary to their original statement that he left the club on loan.
Forest announced via their official channels that Shelvey had departed to Turkey on loan eight months after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract at the City Ground, but the move was in fact permanent. In a post from September, which Forest subsequently deleted last month, the club claimed: “Jonjo Shelvey has completed a season-long loan move to Turkish Super Lig side Caykur Rizespor.” The transfer is also listed on the Premier League’s official website as a loan.
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
Shelvey was originally set to join Caykur Rizespor on loan but Forest realised they would be unable to conclude the deal because it would have meant exceeding the number of players they are permitted to have out on loan, so instead rescinded the player’s contract. Fifa rules state a club can loan out a maximum of seven players at any one time. The limitations have been implemented to stop clubs hoarding players and, in theory, to encourage the development of youth products.
Shelvey made eight appearances for Forest having joined from Newcastle last January. He did not appear in a matchday squad after 8 April.
The 31-year-old has played 13 times for Caykur Rizespor, who sit seventh in the Super Lig. The former England international has also scored once for his new team and it was a notable goal, coming as it did via a strike from the halfway line in a 1-0 win against Istanbulspor.
Forest have yet to respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the club are at risk of a potential points deduction if they are found to have breached the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. Forest will be informed later this month if any charges are to be brought against them.
“The club has fully complied with its reporting obligations in respect of the Premier League’s revised profit and sustainability rules,” read a Forest statement. “Promotion to the Premier League will always create challenges, and the treatment of promotion bonuses is just one such example. The club approaches all such challenges with its long-term financial sustainability firmly in mind, as the Premier League rules intended.”
Everton were handed a 10-point deduction earlier this season for breaching the league’s profitability and sustainability rules. They have appealed a decision.
