Michael Essien's transfer was settled very easily. He was currently playing for a newly promoted team in the Ghana Telecom Premier League, so his market value was very low. Manchester City only needed to pay £100,000 to take him away from Liberty Professionals F.C. In fact, it would have been possible to sign him without paying a single penny. However, Richard felt bad for the club, especially since they persuaded Essien after he initially only wanted to join Aston Villa.
So Richard still paid the fee. Manchester City offered Essien a contract, but he was ineligible to obtain a work permit in the United Kingdom. Therefore, he considered joining AS Cannes first. Both parties signed the transfer agreement, and starting from the first of January, Essien would be considered a Manchester City player.
As January began, the London Stock Exchange reopened, and news broke in British football: Alan Sugar, the owner of Tottenham Hotspur, had sold around 27% of his shares to ENIC Sports Plc.
