The Foxes saw their £22m bid for the midfielder accepted by Sporting Lisbon at the start of the season but his registration documents arrived at the FIFA headquarters 14 seconds after the midnight cut-off time on August 31.
However, Silva finally completed his move on New Year’s Day and came off the bench in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield, and speaking before the game, the 28-year-old admitted his relief at having completed the switch.
"It's been very frustrating, but now the difficult times are past me and now I'm very happy to be close to my goal,” he told LCFC TV.
"It's been very important to keep training because it's a long time not playing and of course I can work and train more than normal, but there is nothing better than the game.
"I will be in good shape because I have worked a lot - I have confidence in that - but I have to play games to get better.
"You have to keep a positive mentality and that's what I've tried to do. I've kept my mind focused on my job and what I love to do.
"It'll be a great feeling to play for this club in this league. It was a dream for me to come to this league, to be part of the best one and to compete with all of the best players. To play against them will make me a better player, I'm sure."