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Portsmouth boss details Jesper Ceesay blow after midfielder transfer setback The bid to sign Jesper Ceesay is off with a deal in place with his Turkish club Antalyaspor. John Mousinho explains how frustrating rule changes hurting Pompey’s recruitment have put paid to the move. John Mousinho has revealed the factors which have led to Pompey calling off their bid to land Jesper Ceesay. The Blues boss has detailed how the move to bring in the Antalyaspor midfielder has fallen foul of the Home Office and FA’s eligibility criteria shift for signing overseas players, in a frustrating transfer setback. Mousinho: on losing Ceesay ‘We appealed to FA, but that was turned down’ And Mousinho has reiterated his stance rules over players securing visas to play in the United Kingdom is hurting his side’s recruitment - and those of other sides in the Championship. The Pompey head coach has today confirmed the Ceesay deal is off, after his side agreed an initial €500,000 move for the 24-year-old with a further €300,000 to be paid in installments. The FA issues a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) to players from abroad with a 15-point threshold, with clubs able to fill four Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) slots under relaxed criteria. Significantly, though, the FA have shifted the landscape to state players over the age of 23 are no longer eligible for an ESC - wiping out as many as 50 players Pompey had identified as potential targets There was confidence Ceesay would qualify for a full GBE by hitting various criteria, but the FA's reclassification of the Turkish league this summer means he now comes up just short of the required threshold. Pompey launched an appeal over that outcome, but those efforts were rebuffed - now leaving the club looking elsewhere to bolster their midfield. Mousinho told The News today: ‘There was (the opportunity to sign Ceesay) and then the FA reclassified the Turkish league at the start of July. ‘So unfortunately the rules have changed, he lost his points and he won’t be GBE. He dropped to 14 points. ‘He’ll be ESC, we don’t have any ESC spots and you can’t sign anyone over the age of 23 as an ESC. ‘It’s a recent reclassification and as soon as it happened we checked it with the lawyers. ‘We also appealed to the FA as well - but that was turned down. That’s all happened over the past couple of weeks.’ Mousinho has been vocal in his opposition to the FA rule changes regarding overseas players and the logic applied to the amendments. The Pompey boss thinks the shift was introduced to focus on developing homegrown talent, rather than relying on foreign signings. However, the Category 1 academies where these young players often emerge are broadly at top-flight clubs, who tend to take full GBE over ESC players when looking to the continent and beyond. Mousinho added: ‘I know I’ve spoken about it, but it’s a really tough thing for Championship clubs to deal with. ‘We’re working within markets where we want to find better value. ‘I think the rules have been changed for the benefit of the Premier League, to bring more English players through in the Premier League. ‘But ultimately Premier League clubs signing players who are not full GBE are very few and far between, that's with the level of player they are looking at. ‘So it’s not an issue for Premier League clubs, but the consequence of the rule change is it’s much more difficult to sign players at this level.’