Johnson’s £8m City deal done as Boro sign three more (From The Northern Echo)

Johnson’s £8m City deal done as Boro sign three more

9:13am Tuesday 2nd February 2010 in

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MIDDLESBROUGH completed a deadline-day treble yesterday, but the signings were overshadowed by Adam Johnson’s departure to Manchester City.

Johnson signed a four-anda- half year deal at the City of Manchester Stadium after Boro officials accepted an undisclosed offer, which is understood to involve a £6m down payment and a further £2m in potential add-ons.

Scott McDonald, Lee Miller and Kyle Naughton all arrived at the club’s Rockliffe Park training ground during a hectic day of transfer activity, but it was Johnson’s departure that was commanding the interest of supporters last night.

While the deal with Manchester City made financial sense given Johnson’s impending status as an out-ofcontract player, allowing him to leave at the midway point of a campaign that could yet end in promotion is undoubtedly a calculated risk.

City officials tabled their final offer late on Sunday evening, but Johnson’s future was still undecided when he arrived at Boro’s training ground yesterday morning.

A meeting involving manager Gordon Strachan and chief executive Keith Lamb broke up midway through the morning, and Johnson was given permission to travel to Manchester in order to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

His transfer was confirmed shortly after the 5pm deadline, and Johnson will wear the number 11 shirt that was recently vacated by Brazilian striker Robinho.

The Easington-born winger, who made a total of 136 senior appearances after graduating through Middlesbrough’s Academy, could make his Manchester City debut in Saturday’s game at Hull.

“Manchester City is a club that’s going places and doing very well,” said Johnson, who leaves the Riverside as Boro’s leading goalscorer this season with ten goals. “There’s been a lot of speculation about me and, to be honest, I’m just happy this is done.

“I wanted this to happen quite badly to be honest. Once I knew Manchester City were interested, my mind was set.

“There was a lot of speculation about other clubs, but I’m at Manchester City now and I want to get on with playing well for them.

“This an ambitious club and I have a good chance to win things here and make myself into a better player.

“I’ve been at Middlesbrough since I was about 12 and I’ll be forever thankful to everyone there.”

Sunderland also tabled a formal offer for Johnson’s services last month, so Roberto Mancini was pleased to make the England Under-21 international his first signing as City boss.

“We are delighted that Adam has chosen to come here,” said Mancini. “He is a very good player with fantastic potential, and as a club we are always keen to sign British talent.”

Johnson’s departure was preceded by confirmation of Naughton’s arrival on loan from Tottenham.

The 21-year-old right-back, who has signed until the end of the season, trained with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday morning.

He has only made three senior appearances since joining Spurs in the summer, but boasts extensive Championship experience with his former club, Sheffield United.

“Hopefully, I can get a couple of games and help Middlesbrough start moving up the table,” said Naughton.

“I had a pretty good season in the Championship with Sheffield United last season, so hopefully I can carry that on now with Middlesbrough.

“The lads have already made me feel very welcome here, and all I really want to do now is play football.”

Naughton became Boro’s fifth January signing when his deal was completed yesterday morning, and numbers six and seven were confirmed shortly after the window closed.

McDonald’s arrival brought an end to a series of heated negotiations with Celtic that began at the start of the month.

The 26-year-old Australia international has moved for an undisclosed fee, which is understood to be around £3.5m, and will be charged with the task of spearheading a Boro attack that has failed to fire on a number of occasions this season.

He scored 50 goals in 88 league games after making a £700,000 move from Motherwell to Celtic in the summer of 2007.

Having started his career with Eastern Pride in Australia, he has also played for Southampton, Wimbledon, Huddersfield and Bournemouth.

Miller also joins Boro from north of the border but, unlike McDonald, Barry Robson, Stephen McManus, Willo Flood and Chris Killen, the striker has joined from Aberdeen rather than Celtic.

He is a two-time Scotland international who has played in England with Bristol City, and moved to Teesside in a £500,000 switch from Pittodrie.

To complete yesterday’s transfer events, forgotten man Mido returned to England to sign a loan agreement with West Ham.

The Egypt international, who is still on Middlesbrough’s books, spent the first half of the season back in his homeland on loan with El Zamalek.

However, his services had been touted around the Premier League all month, and he eventually signed a temporary deal at Upton Park that will run for the rest of the campaign.

Boro also cancelled the contract of teenage winger Nathan Porritt, enabling him to leave the club with immediate effect.

While the transfer window is now closed, Strachan is expected to speak to Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill this week in an attempt to extend Isaiah Osbourne’s loan deal.

As things stand, the midfielder is due to return to Villa Park ahead of Saturday’s game with Ipswich.

QPR have signed Birmingham striker Marcus Bent on loan until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old recently returned to St Andrews following a loan spell at Boro after eight games for Strachan’s men.