Toffees face Yakubu appeal
26 Aug 2007 - 17:55:12
Everton will find out on Wednesday whether they will be given the green light to sign Ayegbeni Yakubu when they appeal the Home Office's decision to refuse the Nigeria striker a work permit.
The Toffees agreed an £11.25million fee with Middlesbrough to sign the former Portsmouth frontman last week, but the move has been held up after Yakubu was denied a permit.
Yakubu's decision not to play for Nigeria in the 2006 African Cup of Nations has seen him fall below the required number of international appearances to be granted the necessary paperwork.
"Everton have moved a step closer towards securing the signing of Yakubu," read a club statement.
"An appeal hearing in relation to the work permit application will take place on Wednesday and club officials will be in attendance.
"Yakubu doesn't currently meet the stringent criteria for the award of a permit after he chose to stay and play for Middlesbrough rather than represent his country in the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
"Specifically, the criteria requires a player to have played for his country in at least 75 per cent of their competitive games in which he was available for selection during the two years preceding the date of the application for the permit."