Maccabi Haifa striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has joined English First Division leaders Portsmouth until the end of this season.

The 20-year-old Nigerian international will go on loan until the end of the season - a move which will cost the south coast club �300,000.

If Harry Redknapp's side are promoted to the Premiership Pompey will have an option to buy Aiyegbeni for �4.2 million.

However, the move could run into problems because of the difficulty of getting a work permit for Aiyegbeni.

His lack of international appearances scuppered a potential move to Derby last year.

The striker was included in the Nigerian squad that reached the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup in Mali last February, but he was left out of the Super Eagles World Cup plans.

Aiyegbeni scored five goals for Haifa in the Uefa Champions League, including a hatrick against Olympiakos Piraeus.

The powerfully-built player has been with the Israeli champions since 2000.

He first played for Gil Vicente in Portugal after leaving Nigeria and was briefly loaned to Dynamo Kiev before arriving in Israel.

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie said: "Harry and I believe we have a real jewel in the crown here.

"Before he was out of his teenage years, he was attracting interest from the Premier League here and from top clubs across Europe.

"I believe he will be great for the club and it further underlines our ambition to get up to the Premier League on the one hand, and the recognition from top players of that ambition on the other.

"It also underlines once more the quality that managers like Harry Redknapp attract."

It is hoped that Aiyegbeni will be cleared in time to face Sheffield United next Saturday.