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Zion Suzuki, the 23-year-old goalkeeper for Japan and Parma, who turns 24 on August 21 and is under contract until 2029, had recently been reported as being close to joining Paris Saint-Germain, with a possible loan switch to Juventus set to follow. However, several media outlets and journalists reported on Sunday that the entire transfer has been halted, notably because of a last-minute demand from his agents.

Zion Suzuki will ultimately not sign for PSG. Paris Saint-Germain and Parma had reached an agreement. The two clubs were exchanging documents for the Japanese goalkeeper's signing, and a medical was scheduled for today, but the commissions requested at the last minute by the agents, considered too high by Paris, caused the move to fall through. The case is now closed.

The deal between Zion Suzuki and Paris Saint-Germain was said to be on the verge of collapse after a verbal agreement had been in place since Tuesday. PSG had even sent a private flight to Italy for Suzuki to travel for medical tests authorised by Parma, but the transfer then came under threat because of issues on the player's side.

Zion Suzuki's transfer to PSG is now off despite an agreement with Parma and the player. A change in the commissions linked to the deal led PSG to withdraw from the transfer.

It is a major twist, and probably not one being reported casually given the reliability of the sources involved. Such situations do happen, even if they are rare, and it is another reminder that a transfer is only certain once the paperwork is signed. There can always be a surprise, whether because of rumours surfacing too early or because one party overturns the situation at the very last moment.

It is neither the first time, nor will it be the last, that agents attempt to make a demand when everything is almost signed. It is unfortunate, because Suzuki's recruitment by PSG was an interesting prospect and one that had attracted plenty of attention in recent weeks. It remains to be seen whether Paris will now move for another goalkeeper, but Matvey Safonov, 27, and Lucas Chevalier, 24, could continue their battle for places.