Levante to fight FIFA over Sergió Akieme registration

Levante's transfer window ended with a bitter aftertaste. The Valencia-based club could not register Sergió Akieme with LaLiga in time, despite the defender's signing being completed before midnight. Sporting director Héctor Rodas confirmed the setback and announced a legal battle before FIFA to make the player available this season.

• Akieme's transfer was completed before midnight, but the registration missed the deadline.
• Héctor Rodas blamed the delay on heavy congestion at the Spanish Football Federation.
• Levante will take the case to FIFA in an attempt to register the left-back.
• The club insists LaLiga has shown flexibility in other similar cases during this window.
• Rodas says the squad remains covered with Cabello and Toljan as alternatives on the flank.

What happened with Akieme's LaLiga registration

The final hours of the market were frantic at Levante's offices. The sporting department, led by Héctor Rodas and José Gila alongside main shareholder José Danvila, worked until the closing bell to complete the squad rebuild. The deal for Akieme was done on time, but the final paperwork did not arrive within the window demanded by the competition.

Rodas explained the reason behind the stumble: "There are processes that do not depend on us. The Spanish Football Federation was saturated at that moment and everything came together, which meant it did not arrive in time and form." A federation backlog on deadline night prevented the documentation from being sealed when it mattered most.

FIFA appeal: Levante's route to register Akieme

Levante are not giving up. The sporting director was blunt when outlining the next steps: "We are going to fight at FIFA for the player to be available with us. We will fight and appeal whatever is necessary." The club will exhaust every possible avenue to ensure the defender can wear the blue and red shirt this season.

The Spanish side argues that their case deserves the same treatment as others that have been resolved favourably. Rodas pointed out that this is not an isolated situation in Spanish football and that the competition itself has shown flexibility in recent operations. That precedent fuels hope among fans and club officials alike.

Levante's cover options at left-back

While the case is resolved, Julián Calero's squad has enough resources to cover the position. Rodas mentioned two current players: Cabello, capable of playing in two different roles, and Jeremy Toljan, who has already featured on his weaker side. "Our roadmap included not needing another move," the executive underlined.

The message from inside the club is one of calm. The technical area believes the squad is well balanced and that no further moves are expected, beyond whatever decision arrives from FIFA's offices regarding Sergió Akieme.

Sergió Akieme, a proven addition for Levante

Sergió Akieme is a left-back with solid experience in Spanish football. He came through Real Madrid's academy and has played for clubs such as Almería, with whom he earned promotion to LaLiga, as well as competing in demanding leagues that give him a strong profile for the second tier. His pace, energy and attacking runs make him a signing designed to contribute immediately.

Levante are pushing for promotion back to the top flight this season in LaLiga Hypermotion. Adding a player of Akieme's calibre would strengthen one of the areas the coaching staff identified as a priority after the previous campaign.

Where Levante's squad stands after deadline day

Levante closed an intense transfer window in which they managed, according to the sporting department, to cover every need identified during the summer. The process was completed against the clock with all areas working in coordination, although the Akieme episode left a bittersweet feeling.

The immediate priority is resolving the defender's situation before the relevant bodies. The club wants the player training and competing as soon as possible, aware that every week without registration means losing a piece they consider valuable for the head coach's plans.