MIDDLESBROUGH have completed the £6m signing of striker Rudy Gestede from Aston Villa.

Having completed a medical and finalised personal terms on Tuesday, Gestede signed a three-and-a-half year deal taking him to 2020 this morning.


The 28-year-old Benin international will train with his new team-mates for the first time tomorrow, and is available for Boro's FA Cup third-round tie with Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday afternoon.

Born and raised in France, Gestede, who will wear Boro's number 29 shirt, made his name with Cardiff City before moving on to Blackburn Rovers, where he played alongside Boro striker Jordan Rhodes.

His performances at Ewood Park earned him a £6m move to Aston Villa, but despite scoring five Premier League goals last season, he was unable to prevent Villa slipping out of the top-flight.

He has scored four goals in 18 Championship appearances this season, but has been unable to hold down a place in Steve Bruce's starting line-up, with the Villa boss preferring to start with a combination of Ross McCormack, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Jonathan Kodjia in attack.

Gestede's arrival on Teesside will place further question marks over the future of Rhodes and David Nugent, with both players available for a possible move away from the Riverside this month.