The 6ft 5in stopper, who has made over 150 appearances for Peru Primera Division side Coronel Bolognesi, has signed a three year deal at Turf Moor for an undisclosed fee.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle and chairman Barry Kilby attended the Home Office appeal in Sheffield on Friday lunchtime.

And their efforts were rewarded when the panel quickly cleared the last obstacle to allow the Peruvian number one to join the Clarets.

Coyle said: "We are absolutely delighted with the outcome. The Chairman and I attended the hearing and the panel were very receptive to what we had to say.

"I think they saw that Diego Penny could have a big future at Burnley Football Club and we thank them for their decision."

Mr Kilby added: "I think we put forward a convincing case for Diego and we are delighted that the panel saw fit to agree with our opinion that he could be a very big player for Burnley Football Club."

Penny, full-name Diego Alonso Penny Valdez – is currently his country's number one goalkeeper.

He played for the South Americans in two recent 2010 World Cup qualifiers, which resulted in a credible 1-1 draw with Brazil in November 2007 and a 5-1 defeat to Ecuador three days later, which left Peru ninth in the South American qualifying group.

Domestically, Penny was the captain of Bolognesi, who have twice lifted the Copa Peru and also won the 2007 Primera Division Clausura, in turn qualifying for the 2008 Copa Libertadores.