Leeds United work permit hurdle to complete signing, and how they jump it

Yosuke Ideguchi to Leeds United is a growing rumour in the English and Japanese media, but what the latter seem to be taking far more seriously is the potential work permit problems.

Ideguchi hasn’t played enough matches for Japan to qualify for a work permit, and it’s unlikely his transfer fee would see him get enough points to then sail through the first appeals process.

Japan are currently ranked 44th in the world by FIFA, and their average over the past two years keeps them in the top 50. If Ideguchi was a Japan regular over that period then he’d get a permit to join Leeds United, but he’s not been, and qualification through the national team isn’t something which is going to happen immediately.

On appeal, Leeds would have to pick up points through transfer fee and salary.

• The value of the transfer fee being paid for the player is in the top 25% of all transfers to Premier League clubs in the previous 2 windows – 3 points

• The value of the transfer fee being paid for the player is between the 50th and 75th% of all transfers to Premier League clubs in the previous 2 windows – 2 points

• The wages being paid to the player by the applicant club is in the top 25% of the top 30 earners at the club – 3 points

• The wages being paid to the player by the applicant club are between the 50th and 75th% of all the top 30 earners at the club – 2 points

• The player’s current club is in a Top League and the player has played in 30% or more of the available domestic league minutes – 1 point

• The player’s current club has played in the group stages or onwards of the Champions League, Europa League or the Copa Libertadores within the last 12 months and the player has played in 30% or more of the available domestic league minutes – 1 point

Japan isn’t considered a top league, and it’s going to be hard to pick up the four points required. Even if Leeds United manage to argue their case, and they could weight the wages in hope of commercial income increasing, an appeal can still be rejected.

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Sponichi suggest Ideguchi could sign for Leeds United, then move to a different European league. And this would bring the mind quickly around to Cultural Leonesa, where Ouasim Bouy is currently on loan.

Leeds United and Cultural have a link via Qatar’s Aspire, who own the Spanish club, through Elland Road director Ivan Bravo. Aspire have links in Japan, and the whole potential transfer seems to fit together nicely.