Craig
19-06-2007, 17:31
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has completed a deal to sign Arsenal's French striker Jeremie Aliadiere for an initial fee of around £1.5m.
Aliadiere agreed to the move on 9 June but the transfer was delayed as he was on holiday. He has signed a three-year deal with the option of a fourth year.
"We tried to sign him in January but were thwarted by Arsenal's injuries," said Boro chief executive Keith Lamb.
"He fits perfectly with the sort of player we are trying to bring in."
Aliadiere started only 19 senior games for the Gunners and made a further 32 substitute appearances during his seven years with Arsenal, scoring nine goals.
Twelve of those starts came last season when, with 11 outings as a substitute, he scored four times, all of them in the Carling Cup.
His arrival at The Riverside will help ease the disappointment of Mark Viduka's exit.
The Australian striker rejected the offer of a new deal after his contract with Boro ran out and instead decided to join Newcastle.
Viduka's 19 goals helped Boro keep at arm's length from the relegation battle and the 31-year-old's main assets of being a powerful player are in contrast to Aliadiere.
Lamb said: "He has pace and energy and he is young with his best years in front of him."
The French forward has been with Arsenal since he was 16, had loan spells at West Ham, Celtic and Wolves.
Meanwhile, Lamb denied Boro are interested in bringing Chelsea defender Geremi back to the North East.
The Cameroon international spent a year on loan at the Riverside in 2002-03 and had suggested he might return.
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Taken from BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Middlesbrough | Aliadiere completes Boro switch (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/6736685.stm)
Atleast we know we have another secure signing now!
Aliadiere agreed to the move on 9 June but the transfer was delayed as he was on holiday. He has signed a three-year deal with the option of a fourth year.
"We tried to sign him in January but were thwarted by Arsenal's injuries," said Boro chief executive Keith Lamb.
"He fits perfectly with the sort of player we are trying to bring in."
Aliadiere started only 19 senior games for the Gunners and made a further 32 substitute appearances during his seven years with Arsenal, scoring nine goals.
Twelve of those starts came last season when, with 11 outings as a substitute, he scored four times, all of them in the Carling Cup.
His arrival at The Riverside will help ease the disappointment of Mark Viduka's exit.
The Australian striker rejected the offer of a new deal after his contract with Boro ran out and instead decided to join Newcastle.
Viduka's 19 goals helped Boro keep at arm's length from the relegation battle and the 31-year-old's main assets of being a powerful player are in contrast to Aliadiere.
Lamb said: "He has pace and energy and he is young with his best years in front of him."
The French forward has been with Arsenal since he was 16, had loan spells at West Ham, Celtic and Wolves.
Meanwhile, Lamb denied Boro are interested in bringing Chelsea defender Geremi back to the North East.
The Cameroon international spent a year on loan at the Riverside in 2002-03 and had suggested he might return.
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Taken from BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Middlesbrough | Aliadiere completes Boro switch (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/6736685.stm)
Atleast we know we have another secure signing now!