Alex Nyarko to Play in England

LIVERPOOL, England, July 14 (Reuters)(DS) - English premier league club Everton have completed the signing of Ghanaian midfielder Alex Nyarko from Racing Lens, manager Walter Smith said on Friday.

Smith would not give details of the transfer fee, reportedly worth 4.5 million pounds ($6.75 million), but he said personal terms had been agreed and the player had passed a medical. The Everton manager said the club would now apply for a work permit for the towering 26-year-old international. "That process should take about two weeks but we do not expect any problems," said Smith.

Nyarko was recommended to Smith by former Everton midfielder Olivier Dacourt, who played alongside the Ghanaian at Lens last season before joining Leeds United in May. The Ghanaian's arrival came 24 hours after the departure of Don Hutchison to premier league rivals Sunderland. The Merseyside club have also agreed a fee with Fulham for Hutchison's fellow Scottish midfielder John Collins.