Yakubu gets work permit

Aug 29 2007

Everton have completed the signing of striker Ayegbeni Yakubu from Middlesbrough for £11.25million after the Home Office granted the Nigerian a work permit on appeal.

The club record signing missed out on an automatic permit because he had not played enough international games over the last two years.

However, Yakubu was allocated a work permit following an appeal hearing in Sheffield today, with Everton successfully arguing that the player's credentials to ply his trade in the Barclays Premier League have been made clear in the last four years.

Yakubu, who is Everton's fourth big signing of the summer, told the club's website: "I am happy to be here. It is a great feeling to come over and meet a lot of good players and see the spirit that they have.

"I have always said that I want to play for a club that plays in Europe and I think they have the ambition to move forward and they want to finish in the first four and the Champions League and Uefa Cup and for me that is my dream.

"I know there is a long way to go and I want to be part of that - to be successful and to have that dream.

"I chose to go to Middlesbrough because they were in Europe. At the moment they are not doing it. I think I made the right decision to come to this place. It is a massive club and it is a great feeling. There are great players and you want to play for a big club."

Only Thierry Henry has scored more Premier League goals in the last four years.