Quote: Asgardian13 "Once legal contracts are involved it can take an age. Neither party is free to announce anything until both have signed. The issue is that fans hear unconfirmed rumours way in advance of this final stage and asssume a deal has been done. The time from actual signing to announcement is rarely more than seven days.'"
I fully agree. There has been many a 'done deal' that has come unstuck at the 11th hour. Also worth remembering that even simple things such as a player going off on holiday or on tour as soon as the season is finished can delay the process. I have a faint recollection that this was the case with the Kev Brown deal 2 years ago.
It is also customary for the club from which the player is leaving to be given the opportunity to announce first.