Joel Ordonez's Palace move in doubt after medical complications

Crystal Palace's proposed signing of Ecuador international Joel Ordonez has encountered unexpected obstacles following the defender's recent medical examination.

The Premier League club had agreed in principle to a loan deal with an option to buy for the 22-year-old centre-back, who featured for Ecuador at the recent World Cup. However, sources indicate the injury Ordonez sustained to his metatarsal is more severe than initially assessed by Palace officials, casting doubt on the move's progression.

Ordonez suffered the broken metatarsal earlier this year, with Palace aware of the injury during their negotiations. The club had been pursuing the defender as part of their defensive reinforcements, particularly after their match against Everton last Saturday, during which defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off with an apparent knee injury.

In an effort to bolster their centre-back options, Palace finalized a separate loan agreement with Chelsea for Axel Disasi on Wednesday. Despite this acquisition, the club remains interested in adding another defensive option to their squad, though Ordonez's fitness concerns may now complicate those plans.

A Palace spokesperson declined to comment on the status of the Ordonez deal.

The potential acquisition of Ordonez comes amid Palace's ongoing defensive reshuffling following injuries to multiple back-line players. The club has already signed Lloyd Kelly and Haji Wright in recent weeks as they look to address their defensive depth.

Ordonez, who joined Club Brugge from Ligue 1 side Reims in 2022, has made 54 appearances for the Belgian club. His potential move to the Premier League would mark a significant step in his career, though his current injury status presents an unforeseen hurdle.

Palace now faces a decision on whether to proceed with the deal given the updated medical information. The club has not indicated a timeline for making this determination.