Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will NOT make debuts this weekend after United and Arsenal miss deadline

Even if the Sanchez and Mkhitaryan transfers are announced later today, Premier League regulations will prevent them from making their debuts for their new clubs

Luke Brown
Friday 19 January 2018 13:23 GMT
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Alexis Sanchez has been made to wait for his Manchester United debut after the club failed to complete his signing from Arsenal in time for the Premier League’s registration deadline.

For Sanchez to have been available for the match against Burnley this weekend, United would have needed to complete his signing by midday on Friday.

Likewise, Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be unavailable for Arsenal against Crystal Palace even if his move to the Emirates Stadium is confirmed later today.

Under Section U.23. of Premier League rules, new signings must be registered by their clubs at 12 noon on the last working day before their first match to be eligible to play.

“The deadline for receipt by the Board of all duly completed documents required by these Rules to effect the registeration of a Player shall be 12 noon on the last Working Day before the date of the first League match in which the club making the application intends him to play,” the rules state.

“Save that the international transfer certificate and evidence of eligibility to take up employment in the United Kingdom (in both cases if applicable) may be provided thereafter (but must be provided before the Player is registered by the League).”

The news will no doubt come as a blow to both players, as earlier in the week the two clubs were confident their new signings would be available to play this weekend.

The fine details of Sanchez’s move to Old Trafford were finalised on Wednesday, with the Chilean set to sign a contract until 2022 that will give him wages of over £400,000. United have also agreed to pay agents’ fees of up to £10m that both Manchester City and Chelsea balked at.

However, Mkhitaryan’s wage demands are believed to have allowed down the deal, with both clubs wanting to announce the two players at the same time.

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