Football: Henry Onyekuru Face Work Permit Issue

Arsenal and West Ham target Henry Onyekuru could face a challenge acquiring a work permit this summer. Onyekuru could face a challenge to obtain a work permit as he does not automatically qualify on the percentage of senior international matches for his national team. 

The 20-year-old was only recently called up to the Nigeria squad and has won only one senior cap. FA rule state that players under the age of 21 must have played a certain percentage of matches one the past calendar year for the national side in order to qualify for a work permit. 

In the case on Onyekuru, he would have had to have played 75% of the Super Eagle’s games over the last because of their 38th placed world ranking – a criteria the forward clearly does not meet.

Should the Hammers agree a fee and personal terms with the player, it would mean that Onyekuru’s fate will be in the hands of The FA’s Exceptions Panel. The Panel would be asked consider what The FA describes as the player’s experience and value in order to determine whether a work permit should be granted.