Police take Yakubu's car

Oct 25 2007

EVERTON star Yakubu was stopped by police in Liverpool for driving without a UK licence.

The £11m striker was pulled over by officers carrying out routine stops and questioned when he showed Nigerian documents.

His luxury Bentley was then taken to a nearby police station while the 24-year-old arranged for a friend with an English licence to collect it.

It is understood the forward, real name Aiyegbeni Yakubu, will not have to re-sit a driving test but must apply for the UK paperwork.

He is expected to line up for the Blues tonight as they kick off the group stages of the Uefa cup.

Paperwork was a headache for Yakubu before he even arrived in Merseyside. Everton had to apply for a new work permit for him despite his four years spent in English football with Portsmouth and Middlesbrough.

A spokesman for Everton confirmed the incident, which happened on Smithdown Road, Wavertree and said the matter was with police.

A Merseyside police spokesman said: “A 24-year-old man was stopped by Merseyside police and he did not have a current UK driving licence. He was questioned in relation to that.”

Yakubu was not arrested or charged by officers and the incident is classed as a summary offence.

A powerful striker Yakubu, from Benin City, started his career at Israeli team Maccabi Haifa, where he won two championships and had a phenomenal scoring record.

After scoring 7 goals in 8 European Cup appearances, including a hat-trick against Olympiakos and another against Manchester United, in the Champions League he moved to Portsmouth in January 2003.

After the 2004-05 season, he transferred from Pompey to Middlesbrough for a £7.5 million fee.

He completed a move to Everton in August for a club record fee of £11.25m after being granted a work permit.