Guzan Denied Work Permit

So it's not just Iraqi players who get denied work permits from the Home Office after all.
Brad Guzan's $4 million transfer to Aston Villa has been thwarted this afternoon as the goalkeeper's request for a work permit has been turned away by an appeals board in England. He will rejoin the US Men's National Team camp ahead of next Wednesday's game against Mexico and will be a member of Chivas USA when the 2008 MLS season kicks off in late March.

"We're very disappointed with the outcome as we were really looking forward to Brad joining us but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be," Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill said.

A minor setback for the player, this development will allow Chivas some time to plan for a future Guzan exit, as the netminder will certainly be at the top of many teams' lists when the summer transfer window rolls around.

"Although we share in his disappointment at the denial of his British work permit, we know that Brad, like the true professional he is, will continue to work hard to improve every day on and off the field with Chivas USA," Chivas USA coach Preki Radosavljevic said.