Crystal Palace have ruled out the possibility of signing Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche on a permanent deal after he failed to meet the conditions required to trigger the clause in his loan agreement.
The 22-year-old joined Palace from Getafe CF with an option that would have made the transfer permanent if he reached 10 Premier League starts before the end of the season.
Clause now impossible to trigger
With only nine matches remaining in the campaign and Uche yet to start a league game, it has become mathematically impossible for the clause to be activated.
The midfielder has made 14 Premier League appearances for the Eagles but all have come from the bench, amounting to just 159 minutes of league action.
His limited involvement effectively ends the prospect of a long-term stay at Selhurst Park.
Limited opportunities in London
Uche struggled to break into the starting lineup under head coach Oliver Glasner, particularly after Palace strengthened their squad during the winter transfer window.
The club added attacking options including Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen on permanent deals, while Evann Guessand arrived on loan, further pushing the Nigerian down the pecking order.
Despite his limited domestic impact, Uche showed glimpses of quality in Europe, scoring twice in four matches in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Getafe preparing for return
Uche is now expected to return to Getafe at the end of the season, where head coach José Bordalás could reintegrate him into the squad.
However, reports suggest the Spanish club may also consider offers for the midfielder during the summer transfer window if suitable bids arrive.