Emiliano Sala only signed for Cardiff City in a record £15m deal on Saturday.

However, Sala was on board a private jet which disappeared near the Casquets lighthouse on Monday evening.

The plane was travelling from Nantes to Cardiff when it went off the radar.

A representative for HM Coatguard said they were assisting Guernsey Coastguard with a search for a light aircraft off Alderney. HM Coastguard helicopters from Solent and Newquay have been helping to search overnight with nothing found,” she said.

The Met Office said that at the time the plane went missing “there were some showers around, but nothing too intense”.

“Wind speeds were not too bad – average speeds were around 15 to 20mph,”

The French media reports Sala was driven to the airport by a teammate.

The Argentinean forward spoke of his excitement at joining the club after signing a deal with Cardiff: “For me, it feels special [to be the club’s record signing],” he said.

“I have come here wanting to work and to help my teammates and the club. I can’t wait to get to work straight away and do everything I can.”