AMSTERDAM – Seattle Sounders defender DeAndre Yedlin has won a UK work permit on appeal, MLSsoccer.com has confirmed, paving the way to complete his Tottenham transfer by joining the White Hart Lane side in January.
Sources close to the situation confirmed a report by Sunday paper The People, which revealed Yedlin will no longer need the Latvian passport he had been seeking in order to join Spurs.
Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said at the beginning of December that it was "highly, highly likely" that Yedlin would have his work permit approved and that he was "anticipated to be heading over to Tottenham in the middle or end of December.”
The 21-year-old is currently enjoying the offseason after a year that saw him debut to raves at World Cup 2014, where he provided an impact off the bench while playing 112 minutes across three games. He also celebrated a Supporters Shield, a US Open Cup triumph and the US Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year award. For that reason, Yedlin may not be formally introduced at Tottenham until the new year.
The speedy right-sider signed with the Sounders as a Homegrown player ahead of the 2013 season, and has played 69 contests across all competitions with his hometown club, notching three goals and six assists. He was named an MLS All-Star in both 2013 and 2014.
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Yedlin also had offers during the year from the likes of Anderlecht and Werder Bremen, but in the end, Spurs outfought AS Roma for his services during a summer bidding war.
Tottenham currently stand seventh in the EPL table and are lined up to host the opening leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie with Fiorentina on February 19. The club are also alive in both domestic cups, with their FA Cup journey beginning away to third round hosts Burnley on January 3 and a Capital One Cup semifinal tie against League One battlers Sheffield United set for later in the month.
Due the glut of nine matches in 37 days that starts with Tottenham visiting Leicester City for Friday's traditional Boxing Day tilt, the sources indicated that the staff will want to get Yedlin ready for manager Mauricio Pochettino's selection as soon as is wisely possible. Starting right back Kyle Walker only made his season bow 10 days ago following a long injury lay-off, while various issues have caused back-up Kyle Naughton to start fewer games at the position this season than 20-year-old center back Eric Dier.
