LONDON, (Reuters) - Everton completed the signing of Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni from Premier League rivals Middlesbrough on Wednesday for a club record fee of $11.25 million ($22.57 million).

Everton said the five-year deal had gone through after a successful appeal for a work permit for the 24-year-old, (pictured), whose initial application was rejected as he had not figured in 75 percent of Nigeria's games over the past two years.

"I have always said that I want to play for a club that plays in Europe," the striker told Everton's website www.evertonfc.com.

"I think they have the ambition to move forward and they want to finish in the first four and the Champions League and UEFA Cup and for me that is my dream."

Aiyegbeni, who played for Portsmouth from 2003-05 before moving to the Riverside and has scored 61 goals in the top-flight, said: "I chose to go to Middlesbrough because they were in Europe.

"At the moment they are not doing it. I think I made the right decision to come to this place."

Everton manager David Moyes said: "He has a very good goalscoring record in the Premier League and he also offers strength and power. We hope he continues his good scoring record with us."

The Nigerian is Everton's fourth major signing of the close season after U.S. keeper Tim Howard and defenders Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines.