Mali international Lassine Sinayoko’s future at AJ Auxerre has been thrown into uncertainty after the striker reportedly refused to train, accusing the French club of failing to honour an agreement that would have allowed him to leave during the summer transfer window.
The dispute centres on a written agreement that, according to the player, guaranteed his release if an offer worth €6.5 million arrived before 14 July.
With relations between the two parties deteriorating, Auxerre now face the prospect of a legal battle that could ultimately see one of their key African players leave without a transfer fee.
According to reports, Sinayoko has informed both his coach and teammates that he will no longer take part in training sessions while the disagreement remains unresolved.
The 26-year-old believes the club failed to respect a written commitment signed by Auxerre president Baptiste Malherbe regarding the conditions under which he could leave.
Foot Mercato reports that Paris FC submitted an offer meeting the agreed €6.5 million valuation on 12 July, two days before the deadline outlined in the document.
After enjoying one of the strongest seasons of his career, during which he scored 12 goals and provided four assists, Sinayoko was keen to complete the move to Paris FC and accepted the proposed transfer.
However, the transfer was blocked after Auxerre reportedly argued that the document signed a year earlier carried no legal validity.
That decision has left the Mali international frustrated, with the player believing the relationship of trust between himself and the club has now broken down completely.
The disagreement has also raised broader questions about the status of private agreements between clubs and players.
Although the reported letter was not officially registered with the Professional Football League, it is said to have been a crucial factor in convincing Sinayoko to extend his contract with Auxerre.
According to the reports, the promise that he would be allowed to leave under specific conditions formed the basis of his decision to remain with the Ligue 1 side.
The dispute could now move beyond football.
Reports suggest the matter could become the subject of legal proceedings, with claims that the circumstances surrounding the agreement may be challenged in court.
If a court were to determine that the contract extension was based on commitments that were subsequently not honoured, the consequences could be significant.
Such a ruling could potentially invalidate the contract extension signed in 2025, leaving Sinayoko free to depart without Auxerre receiving the €6.5 million they had expected from a transfer.
For the French club, that would represent a major financial setback.
Instead of securing a substantial transfer fee, Auxerre could risk losing a player who remains under contract until 2027 and reportedly earns an annual salary of €1.18 million.
For African football, the situation is another reminder of the challenges many players can face when transfer agreements become disputed.
Sinayoko has developed into one of Mali’s leading attacking players, and his performances last season placed him among the country’s standout performers in European football.
His future now remains uncertain, with tensions between player and club showing little sign of easing..
