MIDDLESBROUGH have terminated Diego Fabbrini's loan deal at the Riverside, enabling the midfielder to complete a £1.5m move to Birmingham City.

Fabbrini's loan with Boro was due to run until the end of the season, but with the Italian having tumbled down the pecking order in the last few months, Aitor Karanka agreed to Watford's request to end the agreement.

That enabled the Hornets to sell the 25-year-old to Birmingham, with Fabbrini having signed a three-and-a-half year contract at St Andrew's.

The midfielder enjoyed a successful loan period with Birmingham last season, making five appearances towards the end of the campaign.

He joined Boro in the summer, and made an instant impression as he scored in two of the opening five league matches.

He also scored against Leeds and Wolves, but had made just one league start since the end of November before the decision was taken to terminate his loan deal.

His departure from Teesside became all-but-inevitable earlier this week when Boro signed Southampton forward Gaston Ramirez until the end of the season.