Sergio Akieme's move to Levante has collapsed in the final moments of the transfer window. The 28-year-old Madrid-born left-back, owned by Stade Rennais, could not complete his transfer within the timeframe set by LaLiga.
Luis Castro's side, sitting ninth in La Liga with 4 points from one win, one draw, and one loss, was seeking to strengthen a key position. The manager had explicitly requested Akieme's signing. "To reinforce a position considered a priority within the squad," Castro said of the interest. The granota club has scored 5 goals and conceded 5 in its first three games, standing 5 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Everything was agreed between Levante and Stade Rennais for a loan deal. The player had even prioritized the offer from the Valencian club over an option from Almería, another of his former teams. However, bureaucracy and the clock worked against them. The necessary paperwork to register the footballer did not reach LaLiga's headquarters in time before the official closure of the transfer period. His contract with the French club runs until 2028, complicating any future operation outside the summer window.
Sergio Akieme is a full-back with extensive experience in Spanish and French football. He came through the youth ranks at Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona B, and was a key piece in Almería's promotion to the Primera División. Last season he played 36 official matches for Stade Rennais. His arrival was intended to provide solidity and width on the left flank, an area the coaching staff identified as needing improvement.
Levante faces the coming weeks with its current squad. The next fixture is a trip to La Rosaleda to face bottom-placed Malaga on September 6th. This failed signing leaves the team with the same defensive options it had when pre-season began. The standings show a balanced situation, with a zero goal difference, and the immediate objective will be to add points in upcoming matches.
The transfer window has closed for Levante without this specific reinforcement. The granota club now focuses on working with the available players for the match against Malaga.
