Videos Live Scores Podcasts Opinion Interviews Business of Sport Inside Story Football Cricket Tennis Formula One Golf NBA UFC UAE Racquet Sports Fitness

Record signing misses Premier League pre-season due to visa problems

Sport360 staff

18:10 03/08/2014

Nigeria striker Brown Ideye revealed on Sunday that delays over his visa and work permit have prevented him from linking up with new club West Bromwich Albion.

Ideye, 25, joined the Premier League side from Ukrainians Dynamo Kiev last month for an undisclosed club-record fee, signing a three-year contract with an option for a further year.

However, he has yet to travel to the United Kingdom, meaning he missed a pre-season friendly against Nottingham Forest last week and is also due to miss a fixture with Port Vale on Tuesday.

"Officials at the British High Commission (in Nigeria) are still working on it," Ideye told the BBC Sport website.

"The club has fulfilled all the necessary requirements, but I have been told that the British High Commission require up to 15 days to sort this, which is preventing my ability to travel.

"The public holiday in Nigeria last week (Eid) slowed things down a little bit on this side.

"I hope to get it sorted in the next couple of days because I can't wait to join my new team-mates in England."

The striker admitted that he was likely to miss West Brom's opening Premier League game at home to Sunderland on August 16.

"I need to join the team first then train with the squad in front of the manager (Alan Irvine) and so far I have not been able to do that," he said.

Ideye scored 34 goals in three seasons with Ukrainian giants Dynamo, having previously played for Sochaux and Neuchatel Xamax after starting his career in his homeland with Ocean Boys.

He has won 24 caps for Nigeria, scoring five times, but was left out of the squad that reached the last 16 at the World Cup.

More from transfer-news

Watch: Big ONE Championship wins for Lebanese brothers, Moroccan delivers big upset

ONE Fight Night 22: Turkey’s Halil Amir has sights set on ONE Championship Gold

From Morocco to Abu Dhabi: Zakaria El Jamari’s incredible martial arts journey

French-Algerian Anissa Meksen gets chance to be first to claim new ONE Championship gold

Adrian Lee’s ONE Championship debut confirmed as he looks to further family legacy

NBA 3X ABU DHABI an unparalleled success with legends LaMarcus Aldridge and James Worthy in attendance

Most Popular