Oluwaseytiano: In order to work in the UK, most citizens from
outside Switzerland and the European Economic
Area – the EU plus Norway, Iceland and
Liechtenstein – are required to meet a certain
number of criteria that take into account their
skills, their financial position, their personal
circumstances and various other aspects of their
lives, ostensibly to make sure they won’t be
more trouble than they’re worth.
Footballers are no different, only they apply
through their prospective clubs, who act as
‘sponsors’ for the duration of the desired visa. In
England, the criteria (which are very similar to
those in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales)
are as follows: the club must be a member of the
Premier League or the Football League; the player
must compete only for clubs in those leagues; the
player must have participated – if available – in at
least 75 per cent of his national team’s senior
competitive internationals during the last two
years; that national team must be in the top 70 of
the Fifa rankings when averaged over two years.
There is no such bureaucracy in Italy, Spain,
France, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands or – as
far as I can tell – any other league in Europe.
Essentially, Britain’s immigration laws prevent
talented youngsters from outside Europe getting
their break in this country. For example, Hugo
Sánchez, Mexico’s greatest ever footballer, joined
Atlético Madrid; Ronaldo opted for PSV; Gabriel
Batistuta went to Fiorentina; Javier Zanetti chose
Inter. Not a single mercurial American has started
his European career in the UK.
That’s not to say there are no young players
from outside Europe in the Premier League – far
from it. Arsenal have quite a few on their books,
including Joel Campbell, Wellington Silva,
Denilson and Ryo Miyaichi. With the exception of
Denilson, they all failed, initially at least, to get UK
work permits. As a result, Arsenal were forced to
loan them to clubs across Europe. Denilson and
Miyaichi have since gained visas, but Campbell
and Wellington Silva are currently seconded in
Spain, at Real Betis and Alcoyano respectively.
There are loads of other examples of players
whose transfers have been delayed or cancelled
due to work permit problems: Argentinian
forward Sebastián Leto didn’t play a single
competitive match for Liverpool in his two years
with the club because his Italian passport was
revoked; Jason Scotland was unable to re-sign for
Dundee United in 2005, having fallen out of
international favour (though St Johnstone
managed to get a permit weeks later); São Paolo
youngster Henrique’s proposed move to QPR in
January was cancelled when he failed to get a
visa.
That’s why the exceptional young talents of this
world don’t move to England. Sporting reasons
play a part, but the fact they might struggle to
secure a work permit doesn’t help. Take
Alexandre Pato: the then uncapped Brazilian starlet
was able to register, and play, for Milan as soon
as the first transfer window opened following his
18th birthday. If he had signed for Arsenal, say,
he would probably have been shipped off to
somewhere like Celta Vigo or Levante. Of course,
there’s no harm in loaning a player out for
experience, but real superstars aren’t interested in
that kind of deal. And why should they be?
In fairness to the system, players don’t always
need to meet the criteria for international
appearances. If a work permit application is
rejected, clubs can appeal to a panel – consisting
of FA, PFA and league reps, as well as three ex-
pros and managers – who consider whether the
player is “of the highest calibre” and will
“contribute significantly to the development of the
game at the top level in England”. Pato might
have qualified in this way, but his passage would
not have been assured.

ClintonNzedimma: Iheanacho will be world class...
He is under pellegrini's care and watch and not that dream killing coach Mourinho....no African player thrives under that guy.
I dont see him as someone that will score many goals but as a playmaker.

ClintonNzedimma: Iheanacho will be world class...
He is under pellegrini's care and watch and not that dream killing coach Mourinho....no African player thrives under that guy.
I dont see him as someone that will score many goals but as a playmaker.

QMark: They always raise our hopes at youth level. When money starts coming in, they forget all the skills they learnt at Agege Stadium and Onikan Stadium and start passing the ball backwards.

I wish him all the best sha.

Oluwaseytiano: cos he is not european

ClintonNzedimma: Iheanacho will be world class...
He is under pellegrini's care and watch and not that dream killing coach Mourinho....no African player thrives under that guy.
I dont see him as someone that will score many goals but as a playmaker.

naijanoni:
Chelsea were able to get a work-permit for burkina-faso's bertrand traore immediately he turned 18 last year through the special talent appeal.
He had made just less than 5 appearances 4 his NT then.
If they could work it out 4 traore,then there wouldnt be much problem in getting a work permit 4 iheanacho when he turns 18.He's obviously a special talent.

englishmart: The Iheanacho I know is 33. Not 17

Kossyne:

Drogba did.

ClintonNzedimma: Iheanacho will be world class...
He is under pellegrini's care and watch and not that dream killing coach Mourinho....no African player thrives under that guy.
I dont see him as someone that will score many goals but as a playmaker.

osina1414:
dem ask u? busy body, u no knw him just grow

logica: ...AKA Sporting Lisbon! Jeez.

logica: ...AKA Sporting Lisbon! Jeez.

kannymoore:

Stop being silly please.

englishmart: I don't call things with their nicknames. Aka is not in my diary

logica: Sorry. Ogbeni stop trying to be smart in covering up your ignorance. Sporting Lisbon is the popular name of the club.

Abbycite: The problem is lack of good management......we have far better players in Africa at a younger stage than all of Europe.........If player like Lampard, Gerard can be rate as world class midfielder without no particular skills (so to say).....You begin to wonder where the likes of J.J, Oruma and co could have been with good management.

hollandis: I swear this safari girl,I feel like smashing her head for always supporting mediocrity

QMark: They always raise our hopes at youth level. When money starts coming in, they forget all the skills they learnt at Agege Stadium and Onikan Stadium and start passing the ball backwards.

I wish him all the best sha.

QMark: They always raise our hopes at youth level. When money starts coming in, they forget all the skills they learnt at Agege Stadium and Onikan Stadium and start passing the ball backwards.

I wish him all the best sha.