Boro confirm Real Madrid dealMiddlesbrough have concluded a deal with Spanish giants Real Madrid to have defender Jonathan Woodgate move to the Riverside Stadium on a permanent basis.
Club manager Gareth Southgate said: "The opportunity to bring in a player of this quality doesn't happen very often."
"We've known for a couple of months that Woody wanted to stay. He came to tell me and the chairman he wanted to sign.
"Negotiations with Real Madrid have taken a little while, we had to be sure it was the right deal for this club.
"Now it's done we're obviously delighted, it shows that we're moving in the right direction if we can attract a player of this quality."
Woodgate himself added: "I made my mind up about three months ago, to be honest, but we could not really say anything.
"I went into the manager's office and told him I wanted to sign. I think he was caught unexpectedly when I told him.
"I am extremely happy. It has been an ambition of mine to play for the club and I am doing that now - I am going to do that for the next four years."
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