haʊˈɛvɚ, hɪz fˈɜːst tˈiːm tʃˈænsᵻz wɜː ɹᵻstɹˈɪktᵻd ˌoʊvɚ ðə nˈɛkst tˈuː sˈiːzənz, ænd ˈæftɚ nˌɪɹli ɐ jˈɪɹ ɔnðə tɹˈænsfɜː lˈɪst ænd ɐ nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv klˈʌbz ɛkspɹˈɛsɪŋ ˈɪntɹɛst ɪn sˈaɪnɪŋ hˌɪm hiː mˈuːvd tə swˈɪtsɚlənd ɪn ɐ pˈaʊnd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ mˈuːv tə ɡɹˈæshɑːpɚz ˌɔn twˈɛnti sˈɛvən ˈɔːɡəst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn.
However, his first team chances were restricted over the next two seasons, and after nearly a year on the transfer list - and a number of clubs expressing interest in signing him - he moved to Switzerland in a £500,000 move to Grasshoppers on 27 August 1999.