Yakubu was granted permission to move to Everton for £11.25 million today. Eight years ago, the striker was sold for a meagre £300,000.
Follow Yakubu’s career so far below.
1982: Born November 22, in Benin City, Nigeria.
1998: Began his career with Okomo Oil team.
1999: Joins Julius Berger for the 1999 season and finishes top scorer in the Nigerian league.
1999: Joins Israeli side Maccabi Haifa in deal worth approximately £300,000. Loaned out to Hapoel Kfar-Saba who are relegated at end of 1999-2000 season, despite Yakubu’s six goals.
2000: Makes Nigeria debut aged 17 in World Cup qualifier against Eritrea. Played for Nigeria at the Sydney Olympics.
2001: Scores 13 goals in 22 league games for Maccabi Haifa during the 2001-02 season.
2002: Scores five Champions League goals for Haifa, including winner against Manchester United.
2003: January – Moves to Portsmouth on loan.
May – Portsmouth are promoted to the Premiership and Yakubu signs a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee.
2004: January – Sent home from the African Nations Cup for allegedly breaking a curfew along with two team-mates. Nigeria invite him back, but Yakubu declines the offer. Refuses to play for Nigeria again in May, after being asked to take part in friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland and Jamaica.
August – Agrees to resume his international career and accepts invitation to face Zimbabwe.
2005: May – Moves to Middlesbrough for £7.5million.
2006: May – Part of the Middlesbrough team beaten by Sevilla in the UEFA Cup final.
2007: June – Admits he would consider a move away from the Riverside for a top club, saying: “If a big club comes with a very big amount of money, anything is possible.”
Aug 22 – Middlesbrough confirm they have agreed a fee with Everton for the striker. The deal initially stalls when the player is denied a work permit by the Home Office.
Aug 29 – Everton complete the signing of Yakubu for £11.25million after the Home Office granted the Nigerian a work permit on appeal.