JELLE VOSSEN wants to repay everyone connected with Middlesbrough for persuading him to move to Teesside by succeeding in the next chapter of a career already boasting a string of honours.

There has been plenty of excitement around the Riverside Stadium since the Belgium international completed a season-long loan from Genk on transfer deadline day.

The deal brought an end to the club’s near two-year pursuit of the forward, dating back to when Tony Mowbray was in charge, and he was well aware of Boro’s determination to land him.

Throughout the summer Vossen had told the Belgium club that he wanted to join Middlesbrough and there was even a ‘#freejellevossen’ campaign launched on Twitter by a fan which went viral before grabbing the attention of television stations in Genk.

After numerous offers were rejected for a player rated in the £7m bracket in January, Vossen’s wish was granted in the end – and he is determined to deliver in a red shirt.

“It took some time but I am very happy to be here,” said Vossen. “I knew Middlesbrough had been interested for one or two years, so I was happy to get here on the last day of the transfer window.

“Middlesbrough have shown from the first second that they really wanted me. They kept going in with offers and in the end one thing mattered, coming to Middlesbrough, because they gave me a lot of confidence.

“It was amazing to see the Twitter campaign. I never thought it would have been so big, so to follow it was great. A lot of fans were involved and it was nice, so I am happy to be here. I hope I can give them something back as fast as possible.

“I got all of that from the fans before I had even played one game for Middlesbrough. That’s a good sign. In Genk I also had a really good relationship with the fans so I would like to think it is possible here too to have a good relationship with them.”

Five years ago Vossen, aged just 20 at the time, enjoyed his first trophy success. He helped Genk to the Belgium Cup, which he won again last year. He was also part of Genk’s Belgium Jupiler League title success in 2011, leading to appearances in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen, Valencia and Chelsea. He scored against the latter.

Such memories he will cherish forever, but he felt it was time to move on and his achievements have only made him hungrier to do more in his career.

“Over the last two or three seasons I had won the cup and championship in Belgium, we played Champions League, Europa League, so I achieved everything almost you can in Belgium football,” said the 25-year-old.

“I needed a new challenge and that’s what I am searching for at Middlesbrough. The Premier League is a target but I am not looking too far ahead. I just want to get a good feeling on the field as quickly as possible and to get to know the lads. After that it is about good results and if I can help Middlesbrough to do that, get some goals, we can look to the next step.

“I had 13 years playing for Genk so I really needed a new environment so to come here and to see the training ground, the facilities were excellent. It’s a step forward for me out of Belgium. I want to finish as high as possible. In football you can’t look too far ahead, you can only go step by step.”

After a few chats with Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough head coach, Vossen is already schooled in to the way of not predicting too much. That is why he was reluctant to talk up the prospects of a Premier League promotion push during his initial loan stint.

Vossen turned out in front of fans for the first time at the Riverside on Friday morning when he scored a diving header in a training ground game organised for supporters to go and watch.

In perhaps a sign of things to come he started the game just behind lone striker Kike, with new recruit Yanic Wildschut on the left and Albert Adomah down the right.

Kike also got in on the act after swapping sides in the second half, while there were also stunning goals from Emmanuel Ledesma and Lee Tomlin as Karanka tried to come up with the best system for next Saturday’ trip to Huddersfield.

Vossen expects a tough campaign. He said: “I have talked to some friends. You can be first in the league and still lose to teams at the bottom in the Championship, it’s a very difficult league and the tempo will be harder than in Belgium.

“I needed a new challenge and I am looking forward to it. You are a footballer for challenges and there’s nothing better than playing games in big stadiums. I have kept an eye on Middlesbrough a little since I knew they were interested in me. We have a great squad, with good staff, so we just have to move forward step by step.”

Defender Jonathan Woodgate did not figure in the training ground game. He continues his recovery from hamstring trouble and was put through some light training afterwards on his own.