Hull City have just over a month to decide whether or not to exercise a deal to sign midfielder Oscar Zambrano before he returns to his parent club, LDU Quito.
Quito’s sporting director Eduardo Álvarez says the ball is in City‘s court on whether or not the Tigers want to make their loan move permanent and sign the talented Ecuadorian ace on a permanent deal.
In November, Zambrano was slapped with an 18-month ban for a doping offence committed prior to his move to City, but that was reduced on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland last month following a hearing in March.
That reduction means the 21-year-old will be eligible to return to action from the beginning of November, and the Championship club must now decide if they want to activate their clause, which was inserted into the season-long loan deal which brought him to England last summer.
“Hull City has the option to acquire Óscar Zambrano until mid-June; the ball is in their court. If the purchase option isn’t granted, the player will return to the club,” Álvarez told Machdeportes.
Owner Acun Ilicali has always maintained that City would stand by Zambrano, irrespective of the initial outcome, and that has happened with the club continuing to pay their portion of his salary, while offering him any support he needs throughout the season.
The Tigers’ owner has viewed Zambrano as a player with significant potential, and a return to City is being discussed, albeit one that does not see him available for selection until the autumn.
“We are pleased to inform you that, after exhausting all legal avenues related to the suspension imposed by CONMEBOL on player Oscar Zambrano, our legal team has been able to demonstrate an error in the administration of medication due to a pre-existing medical condition,” LDU Quito said in a statement after his ban was reduced.
“It is important to emphasise that at no point was the principle of Fair Play called into question. Thanks to these efforts, we have obtained a significant reduction in his sanction, which will expire on November 3, 2025. We are pleased to announce that our beloved Oscar will be able to return to the field as of that date. We appreciate your continued support.”