West Bromwich Albion’s new signing Brown Ideye looks set to miss the start of the season because of delays in processing his visa and work permit.
The 25-year-old striker is the Baggies’ record signing, after the club paid a fee in the region of £10million to bring him to the Hawthorns from Dynamo Kiev on a three-year deal.
But since signing the deal, the Nigeria international is yet to travel to England to train with his new team-mates, meaning West Brom’s first game of the new season – against Sunderland on August 16 – is likely to come too soon.
Ideye has not been able to take part in any of Albion’s pre-season friendlies, and is highly unlikely to be involved in Tuesday’s game against Port Vale.
“Officials at the British High Commission [in Nigeria] are still working on it,” said Ideye, who has scored five goals for Nigeria but missed out on a place in their squad for the 2014 World Cup.
“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, the Muslim celebration to mark the end of Ramadan] 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.
“I need to join the team first then train with the squad in front of the manager and so far I have not been able to do that.”
Ideye scored 34 goals in three seasons with Dynamo and has played in the Champions League and Europa League.
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