Leon Bailey: Work permit doesn’t rule England out
Everton and Hull City were yesterday linked to Leon Bailey by the Belgian media. The player missed training on Sunday, without permission, and was subsequently left out of the squad for Genk’s match on Tuesday, which they won 3-0.
Sent to train with the youth squad, 19 year old Bailey won’t have felt too out of place, and Genk’s bigger worry is the transfer storm building around their player.
It would appear that intermediaries are trying to get personal terms agreed with clubs, and then try and convince Genk. The Tuesday claims said Everton wouldn’t have a big problem affording Genk’s €25m asking price, but other clubs such as AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen would.
Later on Tuesday it was claimed in an exclusive from Voetbal Krant that Hull City had come to a personal agreement with Bailey and were prepared to offer €11m for 75% of the player’s rights (we’ll come back to that later), which is obviously much less than Genk want.
German newspaper Bild are also covering the situation of a player they dub a ‘supertalent’, and they believe move to the Bundesliga could be on the cards. Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach, Roma, Napoli and Everton are linked, but there’s no mention of Hull City.
It’s revealed that Bailey watched Bayer Leverkusen beat Hertha Berlin 3-1 on Sunday, which is probably why he was AWOL from training.
Bild rule Everton, and by extension also Hull City, out, saying a move to England is impossible because Bailey wouldn’t get a work permit. That’s not correct.
Bailey was born in Jamaica, and whilst there’s some confusion about his international future given he hasn’t played a senior match, the initial work permit application would go off his internationals appearances.
Jamaica are ranked 77th by FIFA so even if Bailey had played every match for the past two years, he wouldn’t get a permit on that.
Everton and Hull, if they wanted to register Bailey, would have to appeal.
The following explanation is from the excellent Daniel Geey football law website and details the first appeals hurdle.
- 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
Bailey would have to pick up 4 points. Everton and Hull could nudge his points up with big wages, and it’s not unreasonable to believe he’d earn enough to match the 2 point mark. The midfielder may also pick up 2 points or more with his fee, with The Mirror reporting last year that the average Premier League transfer value is around £10m.
That could already take Bailey to 4 points or higher. Belgium aren’t in a top league so Bailey would miss out on that point, but they have been in the Europa League group stages this season, indeed they finished top and are in the knockout rounds, and Bailey has 17 league appearances so far this season… so another point.
It’s still not automatic, but Everton or Hull City would have a very good case for Bailey.
The more pressing question perhaps should be if they want him. Yes, he’s a very talented youngster but seems to be picking up baggage.
Going AWOL from training to watch a club who want to sign you, isn’t the best behaviour for a young footballer. The same would go if there’s any truth in him agreeing personal terms with Hull City and Bayer Leverkusen.
Voetbal Krant explained on Tuesday that the player’s father is due 25% of a transfer fee, which is why Hull’s possible bid would only be for 75% of the player’s rights. That sounds quite like third party ownership and whilst Bailey can be bought out of that, it’s another messy aspect.
Agents are becoming involved and Bailey appears to be being hawked around, probably to the highest personal terms offer.
It’s the kind of situation which would produce a bemused Ronald Koeman look, but Marco Silva is likely more used to situations like this, having much experience in Portuguese football.
