Oyongo caught up in bizarre MLS contract dispute

Joining Montreal Impact last month, Cameroon international Ambroise Oyongo has now reportedly claimed to be a free agent.

Having been linked with a move to Celtic last month, Cameroonian left-back Ambroise Oyongo has now been entangled in a bizarre contract dispute between MLS and his national FA, a report from L’Equipe has detailed.

Oyongo, 23, spent the 2014 season on loan with the New York Red Bulls from Rainbow FC Barmenda, before the MLS club announced his permanent purchase last month following a promising debut campaign in which he recorded three assists in 13 appearances.

The nine-times capped international was then traded to the Montreal Impact along with Eric Alexander just three weeks later, however, in a deal which the team made in order to acquire the league’s top allocation spot for signing US midfielder Sacha Kljestan from Anderlecht.

Competing at the African Cup of Nations at the time, agent Nicolas Onisse launched a scathing attack of the deal in an interview with L’Equipe, arguing that his client had been consulted with without his consent – a regular occurrence in MLS, it should be noted.

Adding that Oyongo had turned down offers from Europe, including Celtic, in order to remain with the Red Bulls, Onisse said, "It's not at all what had been agreed. It's not fair, not right and incomprehensible.

“Transferring a player without telling him, without asking his opinion remains a serious problem in MLS.”

FECAFOOT, the Cameroonian FA, have now waded into the argument, claiming that Oyongo should never have been able to sign a professional contract in the first place because the club he was registered to, Bamenda, is an amateur club.

“The contract in question is void and of no effect,” FECAFOOT said in a letter to the parties involved, adding that Oyongo is now a free agent as a result.

The Impact have since refuted those claims in a statement, although Oyonogo is still to report back for preseason training, despite Cameroon being eliminated from the AFCON last week.

“We have gone step by step with the league,” the Canadian outfit said. “His contract is in accordance with FIFA regulations. We will take all necessary actions to make sure that the contract is respected.”

That the Red Bulls announced Oyongo’s signing as official with the consent of MLS makes the whole saga somewhat bizarre, while the fact that he was paid for the duration of the 2014 season should leave little doubt about his professional status.

If one were to hazard a guess, it appears like someone behind the scene is working to get him out of a move to Montreal, although it's doubtful their attempts will prove successful at this point with such a flawed case to argue.

Nevertheless, if Oyongo does indeed become a free agent, then clubs like Celtic will no doubt be lining up for the promising speedster.