Adrien Silva: Has 14-second delay scuppered $29M soccer deal for Portuguese star?

A leading European soccer player’s career is in limbo after paperwork relating to his transfer from a Portuguese team to an English Premier League club was submitted 14 seconds too late.

Leicester City, who won the Premier League in the 2015/2016 season, agreed to sign Portuguese international Adrien Silva from Sporting Lisbon for a reported $28.7 million on the final day of the summer transfer window on August 31.

However, the paperwork was submitted to the English Football Association seconds past the midnight deadline.

And under FIFA regulations Silva is not permitted to play until January 1.

“We can confirm that FIFA has been contacted by the FA in connection with the registration of the player Adrien Silva and the club Leicester City,” said FIFA in a statement sent to CNN.

“FIFA has replied accordingly providing reference to applicable regulations.”

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“We are working with Adrien and Sporting Clube de Portugal to overcome some issues relating to the player’s registration and exploring all options to find a resolution,” Leicester told CNN in a statement.

Silva is pictured in action for Portugal against Chile in June.

Meanwhile, Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho told the club’s TV station: “I would like people to realize that FIFA has not ruled against the transfer, but against registration.

“The transfer is done, what is at stake is the registration and I hope you can enrol. Adrien was exemplary. Leicester needs the player a lot and I hope they find a solution.”

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Neymar: Barcelona → PSG ($261 million) —

Brazilian forward Neymar, 25, became the most expensive player in the history of world football on August 4, just a week after Barcelona said he would "200%" be staying. PSG's total outlay, including wages and agent fees, is likely to exceed half a billion dollars over the course of his five-year contract..

Romelu Lukaku: Everton → Manchester United: ($94.6 million) —

Although Romelu Lukaku looked destined to re-sign for Chelsea following the end of the 2016/2017 season, the Belgian forward instead opted for a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, as Manchester United look to challenge for the Premier League. Lukaku, 24, was a key component of Everton's success last season, guiding the Toffees to fifth having scored 40% of the side's Premier League goals.

Alvaro Morata: Real Madrid → Chelsea ($71.4 million) —

Spanish international striker Alvaro Morata joined Chelsea in July in a club-record deal, surpassing the $63 million the Blues paid for Fernando Torres in 2011. Morata, 24, scored 15 league goals from just 55 shots for Real Madrid en route to winning the 2016/17 La Liga title.

Benjamin Mendy: AS Monaco → Manchester City ($66.2 million) —

Pep Guardiola completed the revamp of his Manchester City backline with the signing of French left back Benjamin Mendy from Monaco in July. The athletic 23-year-old signed for the Ligue 1 side in the summer of 2016, making 25 league appearances en route to the French title.

Alexandre Lacazette: Lyon → Arsenal ($72.6 million) —

Alexandre Lacazette starred for Lyon last season, scoring 37 goals in 45 appearances for the French side. The 26-year-old boasted an eye catching record of 10 penalties converted in Ligue 1 and, with Arsenal's conversion rate from the spot last year (66%) in mind, Arsene Wenger will be hoping that the club's record signing can replicate his previous form.

Gylfi Sigurdsson: Swansea City → Everton ($57.6 million) —

Icelandic set piece specialist Gylfi Sigurdsson became the eighth signing of a productive window for Everton boss Ronald Koeman in August, joining for a club-record fee. The attacking midfielder, 27, covered more ground (433 kilometers) than any other Premier League player in 2016/17, directly contributing to 22 Swansea goals.

Kyle Walker: Tottenham - Man City ($58.7 million) —

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Bernardo Silva: AS Monaco → Manchester City ($55.9 million) —

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Tiemoué Bakayoko: AS Monaco - Chelsea ($51.7 million) —

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Leonardo Bonucci: Juventus → AC Milan ($48.4 million) —

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Douglas Costa: Bayern Munich → Juventus ($6.8 million loan fee with option to buy for $45.6 million in 2018) —

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James Rodríguez: Real Madrid → Bayern Munich ($11.4 million loan fee with option to buy for $39.9 million in 2019) —

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Victor Lindelof: SL Benfica → Manchester United ($39.1 million) —

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Vinicius Junior*: Flamengo → Real Madrid ($48.9 million) *Player will officially join Real Madrid in July 2018 —

Vinicius Junior became one of the most expensive teenagers in the history of world football when Real Madrid agreed a fee just 11 days after his professional debut in Brazil's Serie A. The 17-year-old will remain with parent club Flamengo this season.

Corentin Tolisso: Lyon → Bayern Munich ($47.3 million) —

Corentin Tolisso leaves Lyon following three seasons with the seven-time French champions, where he scored 29 times and contributed with a further 17 assists in 160 appearances.

Ederson: SL Benfica → Manchester City ($44.5 million) —

With England first choice keeper Joe Hart expected to depart the Etihad stadium, Manchester City's goalkeeping troubles have been eased with the signing of Ederson. The Brazilian impressed in his two seasons with SL Benfica, keeping 32 clean sheets in 58 appearances.

Mohammad Salah: AS Roma → Liverpool ($44.1 million) —

Former Chelsea midfielder Salah joins Liverpool on the back of an impressive season with AS Roma, where the Egyptian's 19 goals and 15 assists helped I Giallorossi to a second-place finish. Salah created a team-leading 71 chances over the course of last season's Serie A campaign.

Antonio Rudiger: AS Roma → Chelsea ($43.8 million) —

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Anthony Modeste: FC Köln → Tianjin Quanjian ($39.8 million) —

The 28-year-old Anthony Modeste had a late breakthrough season during the 2016/17 campaign where he found the back of the net 27 times in 37 appearances for FC Köln. Modeste joins a Tianjin side eager to challenge Guangzhou Evergrande's dominance after Luiz Felipe Scolari's team won the last six Chinese Super League titles.

Andre Silva: FC Porto → AC Milan ($43.3 million) —

Even though Andre Silva's FC Porto fell just short of first place and were beaten to the Primiera Liga title by local rival SL Benfica, his 22 goals in 41 appearances proved enough to secure his move to a rebuilding AC Milan.

Jordan Pickford: Sunderland → Everton ($38.6 million) —

Although Jordan Pickford only boasted a 15% clean sheet success rate last season, the 23-year-old was arguably Sunderland's only bright light following a disastrous 2016/2017 campaign in which the Premier League side was relegated to the second tier of English football.

Michael Keane: Burnley → Everton ($38.6 million) —

Manchester United academy graduate Michael Keane was key to Burnley's success in his three seasons with the club, and joins Everton in the hope of filling the hole that Manchester City center back John Stones left when he departed Goodison Park in 2016. Keane won 136 aerial duels over the course of last season.

Davy Klaassen: Ajax → Everton ($30.4 million) —

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Theo Hernandez: Atletico Madrid → Real Madrid ($29.6 million) —

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Andrea Conti: Atalanta → AC Milan ($28.5 million) —

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Dani Alves: Juventus → PSG (Free Transfer) —

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Transfer matching system

Federations like the FA and clubs such as Leicester and Sporting use FIFA’s electronic platform – the International Transfer Matching System (ITMS) – to conduct international transfers.

According to FIFA’s website “each member association and club assigns specific employees that are granted access to ITMS in order to manage international transfers. They are referred to as TMS managers or TMS users.

“The TMS manager or user must be trained, sign a confidentiality agreement and undergo a background check before being granted access to ITMS.”

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The FA told CNN that it was working with Leicester to try and find a solution.