Beram Kayal is not an Albion player just yet.

The Seagulls have agreed a six-figure fee with Celtic for their Israeli international midfielder.

Kayal has passed a medical and agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract, but the deal is not complete.

Manager Chris Hughton and chief executive Paul Barber are at Wembley today for a Football Association hearing, seeking a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) for Kayal.

He also needs a Home Office visa to be employed by Albion.

Chief sports reporter Andy Naylor unveils the issues involved in a unique signing for the Seagulls.

Why do Albion need a Governing Body Endorsement for Kayal?

He is an Arab/Israeli with no EU qualification. The FA and other interested parties such as the PFA want to ensure that clubs, by signing players like Kayal, are not blocking the pathway for English players.

Leo Ulloa's case was different. The Argentinian striker signed by Albion and sold to Leicester had EU qualification after playing in Spain for Almeria.

What about Kayal's international credentials?

If Kayal had played 75 per cent of Israel's competitive matches in the last two years the GBE, although not absolutely guaranteed, would be more or less a rubber-stamping exercise.

He does not meet that criteria. Injury cost Kayal, capped 26 times, his international place. Hampered by gradually falling out of favour at Celtic since Ronny Deila replaced Neil Lennon as manager, he has been unable to force his way back in.

So what happens at the Wembley hearing?

Chris Hughton and Paul Barber have to effectively sell the case for signing Kayal to a panel comprising former managers and players, as well as FA officials. They will not know the identities of the panel members until shortly before the hearing.

A points-based system is used, with boxes ticked or crossed on a wide range of qualifying criteria, depending on how convincing the arguments are from Albion's manager and chief executive.

It sounds complicated. Are the club well prepared?

It is and they are. They are very respectful of the process and regard the completion of Kayal's capture as anything but a formality.

Albion have been preparing for the case since announcing the signing last Friday. The backroom team has included immigration lawyers.

What sort of information will they use?

As with every potential signing, Albion have a detailed dossier on Kayal, up to 50 pages in length, containing personal information and photographs, scouting analysis, career history, media and medical reports.

They will also use video evidence of Kayal, who has played for Celtic in the Champions League.

Hughton will be asked a series of technical questions - for example, how Kayal fits into the squad, why he is better and better value than other players the club considered.

So much for Kayal, what about proving their commitment to producing English players?

This is where chairman Tony Bloom's £30 million investment in the training complex and academy at Lancing goes much deeper than bricks and mortar.

They will also have to show that players developed have the chance to break through into the first team. The likes of Jake Forster-Caskey, Solly March and Rohan Ince give Albion a strong hand.

The dossier on Kayal will be supported by similar evidence on the club's existing young English players, both at first team and development level.

The irony is that the GBE process protects the investment made by Bloom in the training complex. If signing players like Kayal was straightforward, the pathway for home-grown prospects would be cluttered by international imports.

What are Albion's chances of getting the GBE?

Pretty good. They have a partnership representing them in Hughton and Barber strong on experience and reputation. Both have knowledge of the system in their previous employment.

Albion have no history of trying to plug gaps in the squad via international signings, which should also work in their favour. This is a big deal for them, not run-of-the-mill.

Their game plan is total transparency. The information they provide can be subjected to detailed checks. They would be playing a dangerous game if they tried to pull the wool over the eyes of the FA panel members.

Job done then if they secure the GBE?

Not quite. They should get a decision today, but they also need to get a visa from the Home Office. The GBE allows Kayal to play for Albion, they need the visa so that he can stay in the country and work for them.

The idea is to try to align the two requirements - GBE and work permit - but it can take anything from 24 to 72 hours to complete all the necessary paperwork, so Kayal may or may not be available for Saturday's visit to Blackpool.

What has he been doing in the meantime?

He cannot train with Albion, only run. Celtic could have demanded that Kayal reported back to them, but a good relationship between the clubs' respective chief executives has enabled him to stay on the South Coast, getting to know the area and his new team-mates over lunch. He watched Sunday's FA Cup tie against Arsenal.

What does Kayal bring, apart from his talent as a footballer?

Adding him to the squad will be an enriching experience for team-mates and members of staff alike. He is articulate, confident and speaks good English. He is also a practising Muslim who prays five times a day.

What if it all goes wrong and Albion are turned down by the FA panel?

There is an appeals procedure. They hope it does not come to that.