German international Kevin Grosskreutz will not get to play for Galatasaray in official matches until January after FIFA blocked his immediate transfer from Borussia Dortmund, both clubs confirmed on Wednesday.
Grosskreutz was set to sign a three-year contract in a deal worth €1.5 million, but issues over paperwork delayed the announcement.
The clubs reached an agreement on Monday, before the midnight deadline, and Grosskreutz had already completed his medical.
The Turkish club then confirmed on Tuesday that the 27-year-old had indeed completed his move, even assigning him a squad number and listing him as a member of its Champions League squad.
FIFA ended up ruling against the transfer. An appeal from Galatasaray was unsuccessful.
"FIFA believe Galatasaray had not taken all of the necessary steps required to complete the planned transfer within the specified transfer window," Dortmund said in a statement.
But the two sides agreed to keep the same deal in place, allowing Grosskreutz to stay in Istanbul to train and participate in friendly matches. He will not be available for selection in official matches until the transfer window opens January 1, 2016.
