Lameck Banda finished the Serie A season with five goals and four assists, including two goals and one assist in the final four games to keep Lecce in Serie A for five consecutive seasons.
This is the longest Lecce have ever been in Serie A consecutively, and the city was buzzing. However, as the squad prepared for pre-season training in early July, Banda was nowhere to be seen.
Why Has Lameck Banda Missed Lecce's Pre-Season?
Lameck Banda returned to Zambia during the off-season to spend time with his family. However, it has been over two weeks since any Lecce teammates, Lecce staff or his representatives have been in contact with him.
The squad are currently in Austria on a pre-season tour ahead of a tough Serie A campaign. The players were called into Cutrofiano for routine pre-season medicals, but Banda wasn't there. His agent relayed: "Passport issues – I'm sorting out some bureaucratic matters and will be back with you."
At the same time, the first Zambian Serie A player went to Instagram to post a video of him and his friends playing football. The Instagram story was swiftly taken down after just a few minutes. As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Banda has flirted with a move to Saudi club Al-Fateh following contract talks breaking down last season.
How Contract Talks Reached A Standstill
Banda was set to be a free agent following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Lecce looked to keep their star winger, so opened contract talks with the 25-year-old towards the end of last season, but no agreement was made.
Lecce triggered a one-year extension to keep Banda on the books for the 2026-27 campaign. The Giallorossi have made it a habit of selling players for a profit, with the departures of Dorgu and Hjulmand displaying the clear transfer strategy. With Banda potentially looking to move on and becoming a free agent, Lecce certainly wouldn't refuse to sell the Zambian international.
Where is Lameck Banda?
Banda was seen at Lusaka airport, seemingly set to return to Italy following his holiday. However, after not having any contact with any Lecce member of staff, teammate or even his agent, nobody knows where Banda is.
Many on social media have claimed he is 'missing', which is true from a Lecce perspective, but after understanding the contract talks and if it's believed that Banda wants a move to Al-Fateh, then it is more likely he is going AWOL to force a move away from the club.
"Whatever his objective, he has chosen the worst possible approach...I hope that the boy, when he returns, will be able to justify this delay on a bureaucratic level, as both he and his agent told us, because otherwise it is an inexplicable delay and unacceptable for us," commented Sticchi Damiani in a recent press conference.
Fresh Social Media Activity Raises More Questions
Lameck Banda's wife, Abigail Chato has continued to post on Instagram. Most recently, and as of the time of the post, she has a video on her Instagram story of a pool in a villa. Seemingly acting as if nothing has happened and she is still on holiday.
As per NKANI news agency, Banda departed on an Ethiopian Airlines flight departing from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, accompanied by his wife.
What Happens Next For Lameck Banda And Lecce?
The club have confirmed disciplinary measures upon Banda's return to the club, but at the moment it looks as if he won't be returning to Lecce.
Banda has now missed almost three weeks of pre-season training, and with Lecce's Coppa Italia tie just 19 days away, the 2025-26 club's top goal scorer could not show up for the already difficult 2026-27 Serie A campaign.
