Lameck Banda transfer saga takes another turn as Lecce report winger to FIFA
Zambian international Lameck Banda has become the subject of a growing contractual dispute in Italy after his Serie A club Lecce reportedly referred his absence from pre-season training to FIFA.
Lusaka, 10 August – The 25-year-old winger has reportedly been away from Lecce’s preparations for about four weeks and is said to have stopped responding to attempts by the club to establish contact.
Banda remains under contract with Lecce until June 2027, but his future has been thrown into uncertainty following reports linking him with a move to Libyan champions Al-Swehly SC.
The Libyan club are reportedly interested in signing Banda ahead of their CAF Champions League campaign and are said to have tabled an attractive personal contract for the Zambia international.
Reports suggest Al-Swehly could be prepared to offer Banda a two-year deal worth about €1.6 million per season
However, the biggest obstacle appears to be his existing contract with Lecce.
Lecce have reportedly rejected an initial offer of less than €1 million for the player and have now lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, as well as the football associations of Zambia and Libya, over Banda’s failure to report for duty.
Lecce sporting director Stefano Trinchera has reportedly expressed frustration at the situation, saying the club has made repeated attempts to contact the player without receiving a response.
The Italian club is also understood to be disappointed by the circumstances surrounding Banda’s absence, particularly after supporting the player throughout his time in Italy.
Meanwhile, reports from Libya suggest Banda may have resurfaced in connection with Al-Swehly’s preparations, with some reports claiming that he could already be with the club during its pre-season camp in Egypt.
That claim, however, has yet to be independently confirmed.
Al-Swehly are not simply looking to add numbers to their squad. The club are the reigning Libyan champions and are preparing to represent the country in the CAF Champions League, making Banda an attractive target as they build their squad for the continental campaign.
Banda joined Lecce from Israeli side Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2022 and has since made 109 competitive appearances for the Italian club, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists.
His reported absence now leaves Lecce facing a difficult situation, with the club insisting that Banda remains their contracted player while interest from Libya continues to grow.
For Banda, the attraction of a potentially lucrative move is clear, but any transfer would require an agreement between Al-Swehly and Lecce unless the contractual dispute is resolved through another process.
With FIFA now reportedly involved, the winger’s next move could depend as much on the outcome of the contractual dispute as it does on negotiations between the two clubs.
For weeks, the question surrounding the Zambian international has been simple: where is Lameck Banda?
The latest reports suggest that Libya may hold part of the answer.
But until Lecce and Al-Swehly reach an agreement, Banda remains a Lecce player and this transfer saga is far from over.
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