Zambian international Lameck Banda has agreed to join Libyan side Al-Swehly Sports Club, with the club insisting that the winger was a free agent after his contract with Italian side U.S. Lecce expired on June 30, 2026.
Al-Swehly says it signed Banda on July 25 after his Lecce contract ended, rejecting claims that the player remained tied to the Serie A club for another season.
The Libyan club argues that while Lecce had an option to extend Bandaโs contract, the player never signed a new agreement consenting to the additional season.
Sources close to Banda have also alleged that the 25-year-old had decided against staying at Lecce following what they described as years of mistreatment, including poor pay and limited access to the Zambian community in Italy.
The sources further claim that Banda was pressured into remaining at Lecce and that he had made it clear that he did not want to continue with the club.
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Al-Swehly maintains that Banda communicated with Lecce after June 30 but declined to return for pre-season because he believed his contract had expired.
The dispute has now reached the international registration process, with the FIGC requesting cancellation of Al-Swehlyโs registration request after Lecce claimed Banda remained under contract.
Al-Swehly has rejected that position and says the matter should be resolved through FIFA, maintaining that Banda has the right to join his new club.
The Libyan side has also invited Lecce to take the dispute to the FIFA Football Tribunal, insisting that Banda was free to leave and that no contractual breach occurred.
