French-Guinean midfielder Cheick Kourouma's move to the Blues has finally been confirmed. The 20-year-old, who TWTD was first to reveal was on Town's radar in May, signed a one-year deal prior to the closure of the transfer window but was waiting for clearance from the authorities.
The ex-Sochaux, Genoa U20s and Real Zaragoza man had already been waiting to sign for two months while Town cut through red tape relating to his former clubs.
Chief executive Simon Clegg told the club site he is delighted to finally bring the deal to a conclusion: "It’s been an area of particular frustration for me in how long this process has taken.
"Despite none of these clubs offering him a professional contract, under the relatively new FIFA compensation regulations, we could have been liable for nearly €250,000 compensation to these clubs.
"Despite some of these clubs not even having any record of Cheick having been there, the mere sniff of compensation from an English Championship club had suddenly got them all very excited.”
Manager Paul Jewell said he was concerned the deal might break down: "There was so much red tape involved and clubs were coming out of the woodwork that it looked like it was not going to work.
"I was disappointed for the lad but the club have cut their way through the red tape and got over the line in the end.”