Town have received confirmation that Canadian international winger Jaime Peters has finally been granted a work permit. Peters, who provisionally signed for the Blues back in January, is set to link-up with the first team squad next week.
Boss Joe Royle was informed earlier today that 18-year-old will now be able to join the Blues: "We received the confirmation this morning and Jaime's work permit will be with us on Monday."
Royle attended an appeal tribunal in Sheffield yesterday after Town's initial routes for securing the Canadian a work permit were thwarted.
The Town manager had hoped to have the 11-time full international available to him much sooner: "It became a long drawn-out affair. Jaime should have been with us a lot earlier and we had agreed a contract to start from his 18th birthday.
"Everything was fine and dandy at that stage, then the rule changed and it has caused all parties involved a lot of consternation.
"We know there were other clubs interested and it was a worry that we might lose out on Jaime one way or another."
Reports this afternoon indicate that other clubs did indeed become aware that the Blues were having problems securing a work permit for the youngster, with Manchester City said to have made an attempt to sign him with a view to 'parking' him in another European country with more relaxed immigration rules.
Belgium clubs have been used for this purpose by a number of Premiership sides, in particular to secure European work permits for African players.
Peters has already appeared in a Town shirt on three occasions but could make his first team bow at Colchester on Tuesday.
TWTD first broke the news that the Canadian starlet was on trial with the Blues when he played for the U18s last July. A few days later he played for the reserves against Needham Market before moving on for trials at Millwall, Derby, Manchester United and Chelsea, eventually deciding to join the Blues in January.
The Ontario-based player trained with Town during the latter stages of last season and scored his first goal for the Blues in a reserves friendly against Cambridge United in March. Over the summer he has played for both the Canada U20s and their senior side and should be close to full fitness.