Silva awaits green light for late Leicester move

London (AFP) – Sporting Lisbon and Leicester City announced Friday they had reached agreement for the transfer of Portugal international Adrien Silva to the Premier League club after the summer deadline expired.

Portuguese giants Sporting said they were “awaiting confirmation from FIFA” that the deal could go through after Silva reportedly agreed to join Leicester two hours after the transfer window shut on Thursday.

A Leicester statement issued several hours later confirmed that international clearance from football’s global governing body was the only stumbling block, as they saw it, in Silva’s move to the Midlands club.

“Leicester City can confirm that terms have been agreed with Sporting Clube de Portugal for the transfer of midfielder Adrien Silva,” the Foxes said. “The transfer remains subject to international clearance approval.”

The 28-year-old midfielder, a member of his country’s Euro 2016-winning squad, was allowed to leave the Portugal team camp hours before Thursday’s World Cup qualifier victory against the Faroe Islands.

Leicester, the surprise 2016 Premier League champions, want to strengthen their midfield after selling Danny Drinkwater to reigning title-holders Chelsea on Thursday.

Portuguese sports paper Record reported that Leicester would pay 29 million euros ($34.6 million) for Silva.