In football, medicals are very important before a transfer is finalized to check for any hidden injuries or potential long-term fitness issues a player might have.
While most transfers fall through because the two involved parties cannot agree on a transfer fee, some deals break down because the player fails the medical.
From Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface to Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, here are four African footballers whose transfers have collapsed over failed medicals.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen to AC Milan)
Nigerian striker Victor Boniface was on the verge of joining Italian giants AC Milan this summer, but the move was surprisingly called off after he failed medical checks.
Bayer Leverkusen had agreed an initial loan fee of €5 million plus a potential €24 million to make the deal permanent next summer, while the 24-year-old had also agreed personal terms with the club.
However, reports have revealed that concerns over the striker’s recurring injury problems, particularly having suffered two separate anterior cruciate ligament injuries on his right knee in 2018/19 and 2020/21 made the deal collapse.
Now back in Germany, Boniface is set to assess his other options, having also had a proposed move to Al Nassr in January fall through.
Nicolas Jackson (Villareal to Bournemouth)
Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson was set for an initial move to the English Premier League with Bournemouth in January 2023, but the move fell through having failed medicals at the club.
Villareal had agreed a £22.5 million transfer fee for Jackson to move to the Cherries, but a hamstring injury caused the deal to be cancelled.
The 24-year-old finally made his dream move to England six months later, joining Chelsea for £32 million.
Demba Ba (Hoffenheim to Stuttgart)
Senegalese legend Demba Ba first failed a medical in 2009 forcing his move from Hoffenheim to Stuttgart to be called off, before another failed medical in 2011 made him unable to join English side Stoke City.
Ba, would go on to leave Hoffenheim to play for the likes of West Ham United, Newcastle United and Chelsea before retiring from football in 2021.
Bamba Dieng (Marseille to Nice)
Senegal forward Bamba Dieng proposed move from Olympique Marseille to OGC Nice in 2022 was called off after he failed a medical.
A £10 million fee had been agreed by both clubs, but the deal never materialized.
Dieng, 25, sealed a move away from Marseille in January 2023, joining another French team Lorient.
