Boro close to keeping Woodgate

Monday, 5 February 2007
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Middlesbrough FC have reached agreement with Real Madrid CF for the permanent transfer of defender Jonathan Woodgate.

Season-long loan
The 27-year-old centre-back has been on loan at the Riverside Stadium since August having joined Madrid for a €19.8m fee in summer 2004. Woodgate, who on Friday returned to the England squad for Wednesday's friendly international with Spain, agreed an initial one-year loan with his hometown club, but has now agreed a permanent four-year contract, though the club stressed on Monday evening that the deal had not yet been completed.

Injury problems
Prior to moving to Madrid, Woodgate played for Middlesbrough's north-east rivals Newcastle United FC and was part of the Leeds United AFC side that reached the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The defender's career has been disrupted by a succession of thigh problems that kept him sidelined throughout his first term in Spain and restricted him to nine Primera División appearances in 2005/06, although he has missed only two Premiership matches since returning to England.

'Agreement'
"Middlesbrough Football Club have this evening confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Real Madrid for the permanent transfer of Jonathan Woodgate, but stress that no deal has yet been completed," a statement on the Premiership club's website read.

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