Dixon a step closer to Charlton after successful medical
Published:Wednesday | August 14, 2024 | 12:12 AM
YOUNG JAMAICAN forward Kaheim Dixon completed his medical with English League One club Charlton Athletic and now awaits the processing of a work permit, said Arnett Gardens general manager Peter Thelwell.
Although unable to give an update on the status of the work permit procedure, Thelwell said Charlton was very keen on having the services of the 19-year-old, and he is hoping all goes through before the English transfer window closes on August 30.
“He completed the medical. He passed the medical. So they are working now on getting his work permit,” Thelwell told The Gleaner.
“When I spoke with Kevin Rose, who is there with him in London, he didn’t start training, but he was there playing table tennis and he has been keeping active with the other players in the club.
“So he has not started training with the team but he has been familiarising himself with the people and the environment.”
English Football Association’s (EFA) work permit regulations state that a player looking to join an English club must have played 75 per cent of his national team’s competitive games over the last two years.
That nation also has to maintain a top 50 FIFA ranking on average over that two-year period.
TOP 50
Jamaica currently sit 59th in the FIFA world ranking and have not broken into the top 50 since 2020 when they climbed to 47th.
However, they have fluctuated between 53rd and their current standing over the last two years.
Nevertheless, since making his international debut against Trinidad in March, Dixon has played all but one of the Reggae Boyz’s seven matches, scoring three goals, and has been impressive in all his outings with the team, including the recently concluded Copa America tournament.
Despite the obstacles obtaining a work permit in England might present for the promising young player, Thelwell is hoping he gets it in time for the full transfer to be completed.
“We are hoping they can complete everything before the 30th of August, including the full transfer and everything.
“The club (Charlton) is still excited about the deal, as far as I know, and I believe they are doing their best to have him. They have the interest and they want to get it done.
“So it is just to finalise his work permit as of now and to complete the ITC (International Transfer Certificate) – a certificate provided from one national association to another to facilitate the transfer of a player between countries – and all of that. But we are hoping for the best for him in terms of the work permit.”