Apparently Kelechi Iheanacho has signed. There was some mention of him going to Ghana to develop further. Here by the way is a breakdown of Iheanacho at the African U17 Championship. His finishing improved greatly, but his ball control, vision and so on are exquisite. Still think Isaac Success is even better but hey...
Apparently Kelechi Iheanacho has backed down... and now wants to join Porto. Hope we don't have another Mikel saga. Meanwhile Jerry Akaminko, Ghana international defender, is reportedly part of a 9 mln EUR offer by Ligue 1 big-spenders AS Monaco: http://ghanasoccernet.com/exclusive...e-9-million-for-ghana-defender-jerry-akaminko
This makes total sense. What happened here was that Iheanacho initially wanted to go to England but England has their ridiculous work permit deal in which he would have had to have been playing for Nigeria before being able to play for City. I guess he assumed that Keshi would put him on the World Cup squad in order to make that happen sooner, but I remember reading that Keshi had said that Kelechi would need to gain experience (I think he even said in Europe which would seem hypocritical) before he could make the side. Since City was going to loan him to a Ghanaian side, I don't think Kelechi was down for that. He wanted to go to Europe now and English sides have that stupid rule that they exist within. I'm actually happy about this. African players don't need to be starting their careers out in England anyway. Who knows what Mikel might have become if he'd developed in Portugal or France. EPL is fine for African players once they're established, but not young ones. English clubs don't know how to develop them at all. Look at what happened to Manucho. You could say that English clubs rarely develop young players at all regardless of their nationality. Look at what happened to Pogba. Inversely look at how many young Columbians have come out of the Portuguese league. They actually will play young players and it's still knocking right on the door of the top 5 leagues in Europe. Much, much better move imo. Thank goodness for the UK's work permit rules.
I'm actually more intrigued at what happens with Success Isaac. Real top class player his age. Apparently signing with Udinese 1st of January. Wonder how quickly he gets to feature for Udinese. I'm not entirely sure how the whole underage signing of players works. Will Isaac or any U17 player actually be able to join a European club when their underage? Also worried to hear no progress on transfers for Musa Muhammed, Musa Yahaya, Chidi Nwakali, Samuel Okon, Akinjide Okowu. They all seem to be top-rate talent.
Did background research: Chidi Nwakali set for Manchester City: http://www.fcnaija.com/nwakali-way-manchester-city/ Chidera Ezeh for Man City, Porto or Liverpool, but quiet about this for a month: http://www.nigeriafootball.com/article,2208,Liverpool-and-Manchester-City-want-Chidera-Ezeh http://nigeria.gounna.com/show/show/93265/1 Musa Yahaya apparently set for Tottenham Hotspurs: http://inagist.com/all/409057306782224384/ Musa Muhammad was supposedly set to move to Arsenal: http://www.arsenalnews.co.uk/tag/Musa_Muhammed/ Dele Alampasu set to join Juventus: http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/12/13/golden-eaglets-goalkeeper-alampasu-reveals-might-sign-juventus/ Zaharadden Bello rumoured for Anderlecht, Standard Liege, Rennes or Valenciennes: http://www.footmercato.net/joueur/j319134_zaharaddeen-bello
It's is exclusively an English rule that requires any non-EU (EU foreigners are exempted by the EU's free-trade laws) player signed by an EPL club to have been called up for 60% of the senior national team fixtures for a top 75 FIFA ranked national team in order to attain a work permit. So they're free to join any other club in the EU except an English one. Iheanacho is a junior national which is why even had he signed with City, he would not have been able to play for them until the Nigerian senior team picked him up and even then he'd have to wait for at least a year. Which means that he would have had to be loaned out to another club until he became eligible to play in the EPL. A couple years back I think it was City who had tried to sign Iraqi player Nashat Akram during the height of the Iraq war and the national team was making noise. But Iraq wasn't ranked in the top 75 and the UK wouldn't issue him one and so the signing was scrapped. Even though the UK has since revamped their immigration policy, the requirements for footballers remain the same. It's a result of some of the UK's protectionist labor laws and these rules are actually the exception that they've granted for football. Now an EPL club can attempt to try for a waiver to this rule, but they're rarely granted unless you're a young South American. Willian got a waiver to the rule in order to go to Chelsea despite only playing twice for Brazil, but remember... he's Brazilian. *** E2A: Apparently the English FA is in total control of these rules now and they primarily keep them in order to prevent the league being overrun by foreigners. E2A-2: Nope I was right before, it's the government that issues them still despite the changes they've simply kept the requirements the same for footballers.
Well Success is a bit "luckier" than his teammates, in that he turns 18 on the 7th of January, so Udinese will be able to sign him..... They'll probably loan him out to Granada in La Liga, they're doing the same thing with another Nigerian player Uche Agbo (I have my reservations wrt his age )
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan was the sixth most prolific striker in the world for the year 2013. The UAE-based forward scored 40 goals for club and country. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (69), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (47), Lionel Messi (45), Luis Suarez (42) and Edinson Cavani (41) scored more than the Al Ain player. Gyan became the first ever player to score 70 goals in two-and-half seasons in the UAE Arabian Gulf League after scoring for Al Ain in their 1-1 home draw with Al Sharjah last week. He is expected to replicate that for Ghana at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil. Below is the list of top ten scorers in 2013z; 1.Cristiano Ronaldo (69), 2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (47), 3. Lionel Messi (45), 4. Luis Suárez (42) 5. Edinson Cavani (41) 6. Asamoah Gyan (40) 7. Robert Lewandowski (39), 8. Alvaro Negredo (38), 9. Jonathan Soriano (37), 10. Diego Costa (36
Herve Renard ringing in the changes at Sochaux. First he brings in the struggling Jordan Ayew, who is in dire need of new scenery: http://www.mtnfootball.com/europe/n...-ghanas-jordan-ayew-set-for-sochaux-loan.html Now he looks set to bring in Zambian Stopila Sunzu, which is huge for them in my opinion: http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/zambia/premier-league/news/2014/jan/sochaux-close-in-on-sunzu.html Meanwhile Ghana star Abdul Wajeed Waris joins lowly Valenciennes on a 6 month loan to improve his form prior to the World Cup. Good for him, expecting him to shine: http://www.mtnfootball.com/europe/n...-ghanas-waris-joins-valenciennes-on-loan.html Similarly Nigeria's African Cup of Nations hero Sunday Mba signs up with even more lowly CA Bastia, the last team in Ligue 2. If he wants to make the the World Cup he needs to start playing again: http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/n...31-mba-joins-french-strugglers-on-a-free.html Also Warri Wolves skipper and captain of the Nigeria's CHAN team Azubuike Egwuekwe is set to join an unnamed Italian club. He will however stay on long enough to play at the CHAN. http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/a.../2014/jan/01-egwuekwe-im-moving-to-italy.html Meanwhile Ghana CHAN coach Maxwell Konadu has told his players that the best CHAN player will book himself a spot in the upcoming World Cup squad. Together with Keshi putting a large focus on CHAN to assess his local based players this is becoming the most important tournament yet and its standing has significantly been enhanced: http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/ghana/news/2013/03-world-cup-spot-for-ghanas-chan.html Not so lucky for Keshi's prodigees Gabriel Reuben and Rabiu Ibrahim, who have both been released by their lowly Scottish club Kilmarnock, hence probably squashing any World Cup dream they may have had. Burkinabese heir to Frank Lampard, Bertrand Traore finally joins Chelsea and is shipped out immediately to Ducth club Vitesse, where he joins the contingent of Blues loanees fighting for the Eredivisie title. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/tran.../chelsea-starlet-traore-joins-vitesse-on-loan
Sochaux confirm deal for Stopilla Sunzu as well as a loan for Nathan Sinkala. Herve Renard returning his trust. Together with the rejuvenated Emmanuel Mayuka the club now has three Zambians. http://www.zambianfootball.co.zm/?p=8224 Meanwhile the gargantuan Lacina Traore moves from Anzhi to big spenders AS Monaco, from which he will immediately be loaned out to struggling West Ham. http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.co...aned-to-west-ham-until-the-end-of-the-season/
Iheanacho move to City back on. http://www.tribalfootball.com/artic...-back-agents-rescue-deal-3999528#.Usqj2bTZoUs
Samuel Inkoom joins Greek side Platanias to salvage his career and his World Cup spot: http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/ghana/news/2013/07-inkoom-joins-greek-side-platanias-on-loan.html
Never before have I seen such a scramble for U17 players as with this U17 squad. I believe this not only has to do with the way that they won the tournament (most dominant performance in U17 World Cup history), but also with the fact that the clubs have no doubts as to the players age: http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/nigeria/news/2013/dec/eaglets-on-the-move-says-agent.html Several players from the Nigeria U17 World Cup-winning team are set to try their luck in Europe, according to their agent. Babawo Mohammed has disclosed defensive midfielder Akinjide Idowu and defender Aliyu Abubakar are set to join Belgian club. "Akinjide and Aliyu are going to Genk, we are in process of getting their visa to travel to Belgium,” said the agent. “They will go there to undergo medicals after which they will sign a deal. I am sure they will blossom with Genk in the not too distant future." Both players did well as Nigeria won a record fourth FIFA U17 World Cup in UAE in November. Babawo also said Chidera Eze is set for Portuguese champions FC Porto, while Chidiebere Nwakali is already in England with Manchester City. He said he is yet to decide on whether to take Musa Yahaya to Tottenham or Manchester City. UAE 2013 MVP Kelechi Iheanacho has already signed a contract with Manchester City after he underwent a medical in Madrid, Spain, last month.
Modibo Maiga nice article on west hams Malian striker http://premierskills.britishcouncil.org/en/learn-english/modibo-maiga-player-profile
It appears that City is the choice... http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892...ester-city-close-in-on-nigerian-neymar-yahaya
Could this be something? Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu - http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/afri...-be-very-happy-to-join-liverpool?ICID=SP_HN_1
Would be good for his career though. Agyemang-Badu's career has stalled greatly. Will probably play the next few games, as Allan is suspended, but apart from that he is basically surplus at Udinese of late.
Liverpool basically only has Lucas Leiva, who has been key for the recent success, but they have no substitute for him. Plus Badu can fill in for Gerrard in more of a box-to-box midfielder (although they already have Henderson there). A substitute player, but a very needed substitute player. He would be ahead of Joe Allen and competing with Henderson for the third choice midfielder slot.
Nigerian international left-back Elderson joins with Monaco according to Portuguese press. Risky move given Kurzawa has made strides as a superb left back for Monaco: http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/sporting_braga/interior.aspx?content_id=863179 Meanwhile towering Ivorian striker Lacina Traore gets a work permit to play for West Ham: www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/official-africans-abroad-thread.432244/page-32
The Elderson transfer seems to be complete http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/afri...-nigeria-international-echiejile?ICID=SP_HN_1
Chidere Ezeh confirmed for FC Porto Chidi Nwakali confirmed for Manchester City and the latest: Musa Mohammed confirmed for Besiktas: http://www.sporx.com/futbol/transfer/haber/364321.php
Cameroon's Charles Eloundou signed a contract with MLS's Colorado Rapids today, just awaiting his visa and ITC before he's eligible to finally play for them.
Lacina Traore signs on loan for Everton. Standing at 2,03m (6'3'') the 23 year old Ivorian will become the tallest player ever to play in the Premier League. Taller than Crouch, but he is way more agile than the towering Englishman. He can actually outdribble his opponent from time to time and is pretty technical - something in the mold of Kanu. http://www1.skysports.com/football/...-everton-obtain-work-permit-for-lacina-traore