Moteab is City's most expensive signing at �1.5m

Bristol City hope to have a work permit for record �1.5m signing Emad Moteab within a week.

The Egypt international has signed a three-year deal, and manager Gary Johnson is eager to get him playing.

"We're delighted to get his signature and now we'll be delighted to get the Government to sign his work permit," Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol.

"They can never give you an exact day but we're hoping it could be a few days or a week, but it can be four weeks."

Egypt are ranked 24th in the World by FIFA, and Moteab is a regular international, so City's chief executive Colin Sexstone is not anticipating any problem with the permit.

It's a lot of money but if he's half as good as we think he is then we've got a bargain here. Chief Executive, Colin Sexstone

"He meets all the criteria so it should be a rubber-stamping job but it goes at the pace of the home office," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

The �1.5m deal eclipses City's previous record signing of Ade Akinbiyi for �1.2m over a decade ago, but Sexstone believes it is money well spent.

"There's some very large sums being paid out by other sides in the Championship for players no where near the quality of Emad.

"It's a lot of money but if he's half as good as we think he is then we've got a bargain here."

Johnson is similarly enthusiastic about the player who has been prolific for both Egypt and his club Al Ahly. "We've followed him through the African Nations Cup, and I went to Egypt a couple of times and we felt he was the one for us.

"We think he's got that special talent of being in the right place at the right time, and his goalscoring record has proved that.

"We've watched him play against some very good opposition and he is that fox in the box that we need."

And Johnson and his chief executive may not have concluded their summer spending.

Sexstone added: "There are a number of discussions going on and players being watched, so I think there's a chance.

"The players have got to be at the right fee, and for sale."