Japan striker Shinji Okazaki has got permission to play for German Bundesliga club Stuttgart. Okazaki is now ready to join the bench for Thursday's Europa League match against Benfica in Lisbon after Stuttgart received a signed fax from FIFA more than 90 minutes before game time, the club said.

Stuttgart are also scheduled to visit Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

A certificate of international transfer had not been issued for Shinji Okazaki, although Stuttgart announced his signing on Jan. 31, because of a disagreement between the German side and Japan's Shimizu S-Pulse.

Earlier this week, Shimizu said that Stuttgart neglected to inform them of negotiations with Okazaki and also entered into a player contract with him effective from Jan. 31, despite Okazaki's contract with the J-League club being valid until the same date.