Middlesbrough have completed the signing of former Nottingham Forest ace Britt Assombalonga, it has been confirmed.
Boro claim they fought off competition from Premier League clubs to secure the 24-year-old striker’s services in a club-record deal worth £15million.
Middlesbrough announced the news on their official website and on their official Twitter account on Monday night.
#Boro have completed a club-record deal to sign @BrittOfficials! ?????
?? https://t.co/Ur3PVX6TIl #UTB pic.twitter.com/ZK5zk3qCkA
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) July 17, 2017
Assombalonga becomes Boro manager Garry Monk’s fifth signing of the summer as he follows Jonny Howson, Cyrus Christie, Martin Braithwaite and Connor Roberts through the doors at the Riverside.
This confirmation comes after Sky Sports correspondent Keith Downie claimed on his personal Twitter account that the 24-year-old was having his medical, and that a £15million fee had been agreed between the clubs.
The Congolese front man was one of Forest’s top performers last term, scoring 14 goals in 32 Championship games.
He arrived at the City Ground in the summer of 2014 in a £6million switch from Peterborough, and he went on to make 69 appearances across all competitions, which yielded 30 goals.
Assombalonga is primarily a central striker, but he was also utilised on both wings at times by Forest manager Mark Warburton last season.
Middlesbrough will be hoping the 24-year-old can fire them back into the Premier League at the first attempt, after being relegated from the top-flight last season.