KIKE GARCIA has completed a permanent transfer to Spanish side Eibar – but complications with his registration mean he cannot play for his new employers until the start of next season.

As revealed in yesterday’s Northern Echo, Kike was involved in a series of frantic deadline-day negotiations that were not resolved by the time the transfer deadline passed at 11pm on Monday evening.

Talks with Wolves broke down on Monday afternoon, resulting in Middlesbrough officials embarking on a new series of negotiations with La Liga club Eibar.

A fee of around £2m was agreed, and both clubs attempted to rush through the necessary paperwork in order to satisfy the Spanish FA’s regulations.

However, a delay in processing some of the forms resulted in the window closing with parts of the deal still incomplete. As a result, while Kike’s transfer has gone through, he is not able to play for Eibar until the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

“It is great news for Eibar,” said the Spanish club’s sporting director Fran Garagarza. “But it would have been better if he had been able to close the deal before the window closed.

“I am very upset that we didn’t do it in time, but I am very proud of the work of the club and having a top player.”

Eibar attempted to sign Kike at the start of deadline day, but their initial approach was rebuffed because Boro’s recruitment team thought they had agreed a loan deal with Wolves that would have led to a permanent switch in the summer.

However, Kike turned down the chance to go to Molineux, and talks with Eibar were resurrected at a late stage of proceedings.

“At 9.40pm, Eibar got a call saying they could close the deal with an increased offer,” said Garagarza. “After consultation, we have the green light to an operation with a lot of complexity because we had to close the deal with the player and with the club, transfer a lot of money and complete all the formalities before midnight.

“We were aware there was a risk of not being on time to complete all formalities, but we went ahead because Kike is an important asset for future seasons.

“We have wanted the player since we were in the Second Division, so it is great news that he is ours until 2019. He wanted to come to Eibar despite offers from other clubs who were paying up to three times what we paid.”

Kike joined Boro in July 2014, and leaves having scored 16 goals in 75 appearances for the Teessiders, with his final strike coming in December’s 3-0 win at Brighton.

Meanwhile, Boro have confirmed the squad numbers for the players who arrived on Monday. Jordan Rhodes takes over the number nine vacated by Kike, while Ritchie De Laet will wear the number five jersey that was formerly Fernando Amorebieta’s.

Gaston Ramirez, who has signed on loan from Southampton, will wear number 11, Julien de Sart takes over number 16 and Kike Sola has been handed the number 23 slot.