Premier League approves Mascherano's Liverpool move

LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano finally became a Liverpool player today after the Premier League approved his move from West Ham United.

Mascherano, who had already played for two other clubs in the past 12 months, was given special permission by FIFA for the transfer at the end of last month but the Premier League said on February 1, it would take time to consider the application.

''The Premier League has today confirmed that the application by Liverpool FC to register Javier Mascherano as a player has been accepted,'' it said on its Web site.

''The Premier League is satisfied that the contractual arrangements proposed by Liverpool are consistent with its rules.'' Under FIFA rules a player cannot play competitively for more than two clubs between July 1 and June 30 the following year.

Mascherano had already appeared for Corinthians in Brazil and West Ham in England during that period.

FIFA ruled in January that the 22-year-old, who only completed two full matches for West Ham in a total of seven appearances, was an exceptional case partly because the South American and European seasons overlap.

There were no details of the contract agreed, although it has been widely reported by the media to be an 18-month deal.

Reuters AB RN2252