FIGC Halts Lameck Banda Transfer to Swehly SC

Lameck Banda’s standoff with Lecce has escalated into a full-blown legal and regulatory battle, with the FIGC stepping in to halt his proposed move to Libyan side Swehly SC and the case now poised to land on FIFA’s desk.

The Zambian winger has been missing from Lecce for over a month. He never reported back for pre-season, then cut off contact, ignoring calls from the club and even his own official agent. For a player who lit up the Stadio Via del Mare as recently as May 24, 2026, scoring in a Serie A clash against Genoa, the disappearance has been as abrupt as it is dramatic.

The alarm at Lecce turned into outright concern when Banda resurfaced — not in Italy, but in the company of Swehly SC directors. The Libyan club, also known as Asswehly Sports Club, had already seen an offer for the player rejected earlier in the summer. Seeing him in their orbit again, while still under contract, set off every warning siren in Lecce’s offices.

On Friday, the Italian Football Federation made its move. The FIGC formally refused to authorise a transfer request submitted by the Libyan Federation for Banda’s registration with Swehly SC, siding firmly with Lecce’s position that the player remains tied to the club.

The heart of the dispute is a contract clause. Reports in Italy state that Banda insists he did not know Lecce held an option to extend his deal by a further year, covering the 2026-27 season. In his mind, he became a free agent on July 1, 2026. Lecce, backed by the FIGC, say otherwise.

The federation’s statement left little room for interpretation: Banda is under contract with Lecce until June 30, 2027. That confirmation effectively blocks any attempt to register him elsewhere through the normal channels.

So the lines are drawn. On one side, a club leaning on a signed agreement and the backing of its national federation. On the other, a player refusing to recognise the extension and already flirting with a new employer abroad.

With the FIGC now having spoken, the next move is likely to come from higher up. If Banda and Swehly SC push on, the battle over his status and registration seems destined to move onto FIFA’s desk — and from there, the fallout could shape not just his future, but Lecce’s planning for the entire 2026-27 campaign.