Premier League - Everton: Saha yes; Obinna no

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Sep 22:57:00 2008

Everton have completed the signing of Louis Saha from Manchester United, but prospective loan signing Victor Obinna has been denied a work permit.

2007-2008 Premier League Manchester United Louis Saha - 0

The 30-year-old, who scored 42 goals in 124 appearances for United, has agreed on a two-year contract with the option of a third year for an undisclosed fee.

Everton will pay nothing up front for the injury-prone Saha, with the fee entirely dependent on appearances.

Saha, who has 18 international caps, becomes Everton's third major signing of the summer following the arrivals of Denmark defender Lars Jacobsen and Ecuador midfielder Segundo Castillo.

Saha moved to Old Trafford from Fulham in January 2004 in a £12.8 million deal but struggled to force his way into the first team following a spate of injuries.

He has yet to feature for United this season and made just six Premier League starts during the 2007-8 season.

The former Metz and Newcastle United striker will directly replace England striker Andrew Johnson, who quit Goodison Park earlier this month to join top flight rivals Fulham.

Everton's move for Internazionale striker Obinna has fallen through after the Department of Work and Pensions refused the Nigerian's application for a work permit.

Reuters

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  1. u guyz are @#$%,all ya...chris,yahoozee,jrry and worker in the uk...this issue of racism shud nt be discussed at this age we are...
    u r juz giving bad image to our country..

    let obbina play more for the eagle,i believe in 1 yr,he will be eligible for any club in england,same thing happen to manucho n others...

    and mr work permit,lie low,u r in the uk,u have a different orientation now,try to reason with ur fellow nigerian and only correct dem and not insult dem becuz ur own don better...

    and what d hell is yahozee!!! @#$%

    ANYWAY...U GUYZ NEED TO GROW Up OR U JUZ KEEp MUTE

    YNWA

    From nevawalkalone100, on Tue 2 Sep 7:45AM
  2. Loan player, different from buying or bid for the player,if there is exceptional circumces they can waves or looking properly, and grant or waves, the requirement or the rule, Obi case was different from Obinna case, Chelsea bought Obi, is different from loan player which registeration belong to another club, they may recall him, if they short of man- power in his registered club. Obinna never be a regular team member of senior Nigeria team, Seyi and Victor have being a regular part of senior team before and they have being playing at higher level of their league for so many years.Here in Europe everything is regulated, they have to follow the rule or standard norm. Jay.

    From jrryolb2000, on Tue 2 Sep 1:32AM
  3. can someone tell me if mikel obi played 75% times for national team before he was granted work permit, dont you think little tax he will pay is the problem

    From unizik2002, on Mon 1 Sep 11:21PM
  4. eurosport got it wrong. obinna's not an inter player. he's in some other little known italian side.

    From babacakes, on Mon 1 Sep 11:13PM
  5. i agree with go2tss, the problem sometimes come to uk immigration laws, it is clear that obinna is a hard working youngman. he should be given a work permit, no excuse whatsoever can justify this act

    From ay.david, on Mon 1 Sep 10:50PM
  6. I think we are all mising vital points here, has Obinna played for Super Eagles, I don't think so, was he at the last Nations Cup in 2008, No. If all of these he has not fulfilled then it will be impossible to grant him a permit. Same would have happened to olofinjana and Agahawa if they did not move from wolves because they were fringe players hence they were not getting regular shirt with the Eagles. At the expiration of their last contract they will have struggled to get their permits renewed.

    Anyway if Obinna is as hot as proclaimed why will he want to leave Inter, a top club in Italy to come and play for a mid table club in England. I think it is a professional suicide to leave a club that plays regularly in the champions league to move to a club that can not even win a minor cup like the Carling cup. In fact Tottenham is even a better bet than Everton.

    From loa, on Mon 1 Sep 10:23PM
  7. Bros Jay stop reasoning with ur head up side dowm, Oyibo dont want us to grow thats all. As fare as i,m concined Britain is our posession we most posess it, this is our time nothing can stop us. colonia era has gone, befor they took away the strongest n the fittest and all what we got as a human race. we need it back and this is the time. BROS IF U ARE IN BRITAIN SHIN UR EYES

    From yusuf a, on Mon 1 Sep 10:18PM
  8. I don't think all of you understand the immigration law here in England, able to work legally, u have to leave here in England for continuously without break, for ten(10)years, able to applied for definite stay, even you're born here in England to foreign national, you have to wait for ten years to become British citizen. As a Nigeria, following national football, he have to played internationally, 75% for Senior national team in the last 2years, did Obinna played 75% for senior national team? I don't think he played for Senior team at all or does he? look around or check your fact, all foreign national's playing professional football, their playing for their country. Obinna only playing for junior national team, the reason he did not qualified for work permit. I don't think their is any racial reasons to dennial him, if qualified for it. Your Brother Jay.

    From jrryolb2000, on Mon 1 Sep 9:57PM
  9. I don't think all of you understand the immigration law here in England, able to work legally, u have to leave here in England for continuously without break, for ten(10)years, able to applied for definite stay, even you're born here in England to foreign national, you have to wait for ten years to become British citizen. As a Nigeria, following national football, he have to played internationally, 75% for Senior national team in the last 2years, did Obinna played 75% for senior national team? I don't think he played for Senior team at all or does he? look around or check your fact, all foreign national's playing professional football, their playing for their country. Obinna only playing for junior national team, the reason he did not qualified for work permit. I don't think their is any racial reasons to dennial him, if qualified for it. Your Brother Jay.

    From jrryolb2000, on Mon 1 Sep 9:54PM
  10. To be honest. I dont see this to be racism. I am presently in UK and on Work Permit which I was ganted in 2006. There are conditions attached to securing a work permit which is followed by any case worker handling any case without preference or any influence. This matter shouldnt have led to insultive languages at all. The type of dirty languages you guys are using show the type of person you are!!! it is a shame on both of you calling yourself goat or whatever. African players like other players are good that is why you see every Prem manager going for them. The person raising the issue of age should go to the ants and learn their ways.

    From oluolu64, on Mon 1 Sep 9:50PM
  11. England is only jealous coz no much home grown star in the premiere league it s the foreigners that dominate the league, This just a scheme to stop foreigners from dominating the league, its unforturnate that england dont have regard on they own colony Nigeria. Players from nigeria and other comonwealth countries supose to have more regard in britain.@#$% COLONIA MASTER ENGLAND.NIGERIA DONT BENEFIT ANYTHING FROM YOUR POLICIES ITS BETTER WE CUT DIPLOMATICAL TIES. the other time its u must speak english now its working permit, the most important thing is to get a contract.ELIZA SHOIULD TAKE NOTE OR ELS

    From yusuf a, on Mon 1 Sep 9:48PM
  12. TO LUXY

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Please, stop making me laugh. If he hasnt got the work permit then OBVIOUSLY he hasnt got the required appearances you dumbass. Of course it s not racism, Liverpool FC for example practically fielded a whole black team last weekend and the majority of players in England are Foreign. Get it straight before you mak yourself look even stupider.

    Oh and by the way, I'd better watch my mouth? Why? what are you gonna do.

    Many thanks
    The Goat (apparently)
    PS you are clearly an idiot

    From Christopher, on Mon 1 Sep 9:12PM
  13. IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF HE WAS SIGNING FOR LIVERPOOL OR MAN U WOULDN'T IT I BET HE WOULD OF BEEN GRANTED A WORK PERMIT THEN THE EFFING TOSSAS!!!

    From frank r, on Mon 1 Sep 9:08PM
  14. how old is yakubu and all the nigerians in the primier league.you can easily see they lie about their age.u mess things for urself nigerians

    From samson, on Mon 1 Sep 9:05PM
  15. You have all poured your hearts, but does anyone really know the basis for the work permit refusal. I am sorry to have to say that that no one is competent to pass a judgement here until this is clear.

    From LOOKMAN A, on Mon 1 Sep 9:02PM
  16. Hey luxy, if you could,nt play the racist card ,you would be @#$% speechless!!!!ha ha he he!! you @#$%

    From tumgeshpower, on Mon 1 Sep 9:01PM
  17. Luxy - I am Nigerian just like you, if not more so, and i think you are a stinking moron - a bad poster for our country. Unfortunately a true reflection of the "yahooze" mentality taking over our country.

    From Second S, on Mon 1 Sep 8:33PM
  18. TO CHRIS
    You are the wort idiot and fool to say this is not racism. Talking about regular play with national side in the last 2 years, has Obinna not fulfilled this demand. What nonsense are you talking about. What it an easy thing getting Yakubu and other African players you mentioned to play in England? Is Obinna a small player in Nigeria to be denied the @#$% work permit. Has he not fulfilled this requirement in the last 2 years. Chris you better watch your stinging mouth each time you talk about Nigerians and Africans, you stupid goat.

    From Luxy, on Mon 1 Sep 8:09PM
  19. Well to me everton has just missed out signing a prolific striker obinna he is lethal tricky and dangerous in front of goal...because of a @#$% work permit

    From john i, on Mon 1 Sep 7:23PM
  20. Why do you always go for the old warn-out racism card, if you went abroad and worked for a living instead of claiming all the benefits available,ie dole money health etc, maybe you would be allowed into the country to WORK so stop whinging and try WORKING for a living

    From tumgeshpower, on Mon 1 Sep 7:05PM
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