Joel Ordóñez reveals injury prevented Crystal Palace transfer

Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordóñez has revealed that a foot injury prevented his transfer from Club Brugge to Premier League side Crystal Palace. The player explained via social media that the injury originated from a heavy blow to his foot during a Belgian Pro League match on May 17.

Despite experiencing discomfort, Ordóñez continued to play to support his club's championship ambitions and his goal of representing Ecuador. The condition worsened during international duty, where he required medication to compete. Ultimately, what began as a tear in the navicular bone evolved into a fracture due to continued play.

Because the injury prevented him from passing a medical examination, the move to Crystal Palace was cancelled. Ordóñez stated that he spent much of his recent break using crutches and expects to require several more months of recovery before returning to full competition.