New Metallurg Donetsk signing Dele Adeleye has revealed a move to Everton this week was scuppered by a failed work permit application.

Adeleye left relegated Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam as a free agent and according to the central defender's agent, Dosu Joseph, received an offer from Everton.

"We came very close to clinching a deal with Everton for Dele, but the move was off after he did not play 75% of his national team's games in the last two years and as such may not get a work permit in England," former Nigeria international Dosu told MTNFootball.com.

"Everton are not Chelsea or Manchester United who would have used the special talent argument to get Dele a work permit and as such, we missed out on this opportunity."