STEWART DOWNING will become the highest profile product of Middlesbrough’s Academy to quit the club after he agreed terms with Aston Villa on a £12m switch.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill, who tried to sign the England international last summer, is determined to fend off interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Pallister Park-born winger was last night undergoing a medical at Villa and, despite a broken foot sidelining him until early October, is expected to join O’Neill’s squad within the next 24 hours.

Spurs have also been longterm admirers of the leftsided midfielder, but even if Harry Redknapp renews his interest with a rival bid, Downing is known to be keen on joining the Midlands club.

Downing arrived at Villa’s training ground on crutches.

But the club are believed to have studied closely his medical reports and after being reassured that Downing’s foot injury has responded to treatment, moved to secure the winger.

Downing was given clearance to start gym work following a visit to a specialist last week and is due to have a pin inserted in his foot that will be removed in September.

The player, who turns 25 next week is confident he will be back in action by October and was eager to link up with O’Neill who last season narrowly failed to break into the Premier League’s top five.

Downing is hoping a move to Villa will help press his claim for a place in Fabio Capello’s England squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

His arrival at Villa Park places a question mark over the long-term future of Ashley Young who has been linked with a move to Manchester City. But O’Neill is determined to retain the pacy forward and is also understood to have expressed an interest in Boro’s Tuncay Sanli who is available for a fee of about £8m.

After making his first team debut under Steve McClaren eight years ago, boyhood Boro fan Downing went on to make over 150 appearances for his home-town club, winning 23 England caps.

The sale of Downing will bring much-need funds to Gareth Southgate who was resigned to losing his star player once Middlesbrough slipped out of the Premier League.

The Boro boss has already secured Mark Yeates from Colchester United as a longterm replacement and is fighting to retain England Under-21 winger Adam Johnson, who is a target of Chelsea.

Downing’s departure would allow Johnson to hold down a regular starting berth at the Riverside and the £8m-rated winger has been told he will not be allowed to leave the club.