By all accounts, Aaron Opoku’s transfer to MLS club St. Louis City SC was a done deal—until time played its cruel hand.

The German-born Ghanaian winger, who has impressed this season at FC Kaiserslautern with two goals and three assists in eight Bundesliga 2 appearances, seemed set to make the leap across the Atlantic. Both clubs had agreed on terms, and all that remained was the formality of finalizing the paperwork.

But unforeseen logistical challenges disrupted the process. Kaiserslautern opted to delay approving the deal until after their final match of the year against FC Köln, hoping to maximize Opoku’s contributions. Unfortunately, this decision collided with the narrow registration window in Major League Soccer.

As the clock ran out, Opoku faced another roadblock: his work permit, which required several weeks to process. Ultimately, there simply wasn’t enough time.

For the 25-year-old winger, the failed move leaves him in limbo. His contract with Kaiserslautern expires this summer, making a free transfer his most likely next step. For Kaiserslautern, this delay cost them a final chance to profit from their dynamic playmaker, whose market value is currently estimated at €800,000 according to Transfermarkt.

Now, both the player and St. Louis City SC must wait to see what the future holds.