Premier League club missed out on deadline-day signing after player 'suddenly disappeared' during his medical

A Premier League club reportedly missed out on a deadline-day signing because the player 'disappeared' during his medical.

In an ideal world football club officials would like get all their transfer business done early in the window, but the reality is that plenty of deals end up going down to the wire.

When time is of the essence, it's imperative that things run smoothly so that deals are completed before the deadline.

However, things can and do go wrong. Who remembers when a dodgy fax machine scuppered David de Gea's proposed move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2015?

That was a particularly bizarre incident, but nine years on it might just have been topped.

According to French outlet L'Equipe, Fulham's attempt to sign Ernest Nuamah from Lyon fell through on deadline day because he 'suddenly disappeared' during his medical.

The Premier League club reached a €19 million (£16m) agreement with the French side late in the window, and thought they had convinced the Ghanaian winger to make the move.

Club officials travelled to France to give Nuamah a medical, but when they got there they found a tearful 20-year-old who felt like he was being forced out of Lyon against his will.

The youngster reportedly broke down in tears during the medical and even went missing during the final stages of the process with his agent unable to find him.

Ernest Nuamah looked set to join Fulham from Lyon. [Getty]

In the end Fulham conceded defeat and the deal collapsed.

Lyon owner John Textor reportedly sent Nuamah a message to apologise for attempting to force him out.

Nuamah joined Lyon on an initial loan deal from Belgian side RWD Molenbeek before they signed him outright earlier this summer.

The attacker featured 39 times in all competitions last season and played in Lyon's first two Ligue 1 matches this term before the transfer fiasco unfolded.

According to L'Equipe, Nuamah is expected to rejoin the Lyon fold after the international break after the club patched up their relationship with the player.