Birth Date: 22 November 1982
Birth Place:
Birth Nation: Nigeria
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Nationality: Nigerian
Position: Striker
Joined Portsmouth on loan from Maccabi Haifa in January 2003, before signing a permanent deal at the end of the season.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni Rumours and Transfers
17 08 2007
David Moyes was staying tight-lipped on Everton's interest in Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Yakubu was strongly linked with a move away from The Riverside in the summer, inspite of Boro protestations that the Nigerian is happy at the club.
When asked if he would like the hitman, Moyes informed Sky Sports News, "We have got an interest in one or 2 players. The board were terrific, however we are seeing now if we would like Everton to compete, they must have given us some form of tools. Not that they have not in the past, because you only must look at the players that they have allowed me to bring in, the likes of Tim Cahill, Tim Howard and Joleon Lescott, to see they have already done that. Now we feel it is time to have another go to get ourselves in amongst the top, now is the time. Again, we are still looking to strengthen and who knows what name it might be when it comes around."
12 08 2007
Everton will test Boro's resolve this week over forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
The Mail Sunday mentioned that after spending miserly sums all summer, Goodison chairman Bill Kenwright is ready to splash out £22 million before the end of the transfer window on Benfica midfielder Manuel Fernandes and Boro's Yakubu.
Kenwright has informed Boro chief exec Keith Lamb he will be back with an enhanced offer for the forward after an initial £10 million approach was turned down.
11 08 2007
Everton manager David Moyes admitted that he is trying to sign a centre forward before the close of the transfer window.
Moyes has sold James Beattie to Sheffield United and recently lost James Vaughan for several months due to a shoulder injury.
With Tim Cahill also sidelined, the Everton manager concedes he is keen to bring in a new striker, having been linked with Boro's Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
"We did not think we were going to require a centre forward a few weeks ago, however since then we have lost Vaughan," mentioned Moyes at a press conference.
"I still thought we could have coped because I could have played Cahill as a centre-forward, however now we have lost him as well. We have tried to go for 2 or 3 players in the last week or 2 and we are still trying."
In addition to Yakubu, Moyes has also been linked with midfielders Manuel Fernandes and Lucho Gonzalez, and he acknowledges they are the type of players he wants.
"We will be trying to improve the squad," he added. "Those sort of players are names that we would consider. It could be wrong to say anything is completely done at the moment. We are looking and things have changed slightly for us and we hope to do some business before the end of play."
09 08 2007
Mikel Arteta expects Everton manager David Moyes will add another forward to the team before the close of the transfer window.
The Toffees are currently light in the attacking department after selling James Beattie to Sheffield United and losing James Vaughan to a serious injury.
That will leave Andy Johnson and Victor Anichebe to carry the goalscoring burden, with James McFadden working his way back to full fitness.
Boro hitman Yakubu Aiyegbeni is rumoured to be a target for Everton, who were linked with a string of big money signings.
Arteta is keen for Moyes to dip into the transfer market again to ensure the club are not left short up front.
"To be at the top level you require 3 or 4 quality strikers," Arteta informed Sky Sports News.
"At the moment, we have two, even though we have got Faddy fighting back from injury as well. I am sure they will do something about it. If they do not we know everyone must lift his game again and attempt to become better and do not put up any excuses."
07 08 2007
Boro winger Stewart Downing says he is not troubled by speculation surrounding his future.
The England international has oft been linked with a move away from The Riverside, with Spurs mooted as admirers.
But Downing has shrugged off any doubts about his situation, confirming he is happy to remain with Boro.
"You only get used to it," mentioned Downing at a press conference on Sky Sports News. "Obviously speculation is part and parcel of football. Teams are attempting to get players, it is a big time of year to get players in and get teams settled. I have always mentioned I am happy and, if you are happy, why move?"
Downing's team mate Yakubu Aiyegbeni has also been linked with a move away, with several Premier League clubs interested in the Nigerian.
The striker, though, has informed his Riverside colleagues he is content at Boro and Downing expects Yakubu to still be with the club this season.
"I know there was a lot of speculation," mentioned Downing. "It is been happening every year he's been here. He has only got used to it. He has informed the lads he would like to be here, which is all we need to hear. He's been sharp in pre season and has come back fresher. We hope he will get a lot of goals again this season."
05 08 2007
Harry Redknapp says he has not made a bid to bring Yakubu Aiyegbeni back to Portsmouth.
The powerful forward was strongly linked with a move away from Boro, with Pompey among the clubs rumoured to hold an interest.
Yakubu was brought to England by Redknapp during his 1st spell as Pompey manager in 2003 and he remains a fan of the Nigerian.
But Redknapp has played down the recent speculation and said that he has not submitted an offer for the forward.
"I like Yak, I signed him the 1st time round at Portsmouth and he was a good player for me," Redknapp informed Sky Sports News.
"But there is nothing in that, I have not made an offer for him."
Though Redknapp was active in the transfer market to date, he is prepared to spend again, if the right player is available.
He added, "You never know, you are always looking to improve. If the right player came along that would really have given us a big push at this stage we would do it. You never sit back and think we are okay. We have changed in the summer and brought several players in. If we are looking to finish as high as we did last year, we still need to keep improving."
28 07 2007
Birmingham City were informed Boro's Yakubu Aiyegbeni is well outside their transfer budget.
Blues were linked with a move for the striker, who was tipped to leave The Riverside in the summer.
However, Yakubu's agent Barry Silkman thinks Steve Bruce's side do not have the financial clout to agree a deal with Boro.
"I think Yak could be way out of their price range," Silkman is quoted in the Daily Mirror.
"Boro have already turned down £10 million bids for him and Gareth Southgate does not want to lose him."
04 07 2007
David Nugent will undergo talks with Portsmouth, as stated by Sky Sports News.
Sunderland pulled out of a deal to land the England U21 forward Monday, after previously looking the most likely suitor to land him.
Nugent is now set to hold talks with Portsmouth Tuesday about a probable move to the South Coast.
Villa and Everton have also been strongly linked, however Sky Sports News said Harry Redknapp will get his chance to work his magic on Nugent and persuade him to transfer to Fratton Park.
Redknapp is looking to add at least 2 forwards to his team before the start of the season.
Nugent would obviously be one, as would Rennes player John Utaka, who admitted that his wish to sign for Redknapp.
Former Pompey forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Jermain Defoe and Alan Smith also remain active targets.
18 06 2007
Angola and Cameroon qualified for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008 in contrasting style Sunday.
Whilst the Angolans eased to a 3-0 win over Swaziland, the Indomitable Lions struggled to overcome Rwanda 2-1 in the penultimate round of qualifiers.
On Saturday, Morocco and Tunisia secured slots at the 16 nation tournament in Ghana, which will start on 20 January 2008, with wins over Malawi and Mauritius respectively.
Ghana are automatic qualifiers as hosts, leaving another 11 places up for grabs when the final round of qualifiers are played during September for all however the 4 Group 2 countries.
Angola, shock qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World CupT at the expense of Nigeria, made it 4 wins in 5 Group 6 outings thanks to goals from captain Paulo Figueiredo, Arsenio Cabungula and Flavio Amado.
Although without player forward Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon were not expects to be troubled by bottom-of the table Rwanda. And the 4 time continental champions appeared set to repeat their easy triumph in Rwanda last year when leading 2-0 3 minutes after half time.
Mohamadou Idrissou scored his 4th qualifying goal with 34 minutes gone despite scorching heat in the north-west town of Garoua, and Geremi Njitap added a 2nd via a trademark free kick.
But Jimmy Gatete reduced arrears with 11 minutes left to leave Cameroonian supporters checking their watches more frequently than usual as the Group 5 encounter drew to a tense close.
Morocco sealed top spot in Group 12 with a 1-0 triumph in Malawi, whilst a 2-0 home win for Tunisia over Mauritius guarantees them qualification either as Group 4 winners or one of the best 3 runners-up.
Nigeria, 3rd at the last 3 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, will qualify from Group 3 after winning 3-1 in Niger thanks to goals by Nwankwo Kanu, Taye Taiwo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. A home triumph over Lesotho will ensure the Super Eagles top spot, whilst 2nd placed Uganda will secure one of the runners up passports to Ghana if they defeat Lesotho away Tuesday and Niger at home in the final round.
South Africa are another country on the brink of making travel arrangements for Ghana after a 1-1 draw in Congo left them needing one point from a home fixture against Zambia to seal 1st place in Group 11.
