Middlesbrough have completed the signing of Aston Villa Striker Rudy Gestede in a move believed to be around £6 million.
Gestede joined Villa from Blackburn Rovers in 2015 where he impressed on his debut scoring the winner at Bournemouth on the opening day of last season.
The 28-year-old who is well known for aerial strength scored 32 league goals in 50 starts for Blackburn but his move to Villa in 2015 hasn’t fully worked out.
The club were relegated from the Premier League last season and he has spent more time on the bench than in the starting XI for the championship side.
Gestede was selected from the start for two of Bruce’s first three matches in charge before being dropped for the second city derby against Birmingham City.
He fell out of favor at Villa since Bruce’s arrival in October and slipped behind Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack and Gabby Agbonlahor in the pecking order.
His move to the Teeside will bring an end to his 18-month spell in claret and blue uniform in which he scored 10 goals in 55 appearances.
Boro are the joint-lowest scorers this season – along with bottom side Hull – with 17 goals in 20 games and with Karanka’s side in need of more fire power, Gestede seems like the right person for the 16th placed team.
The striker becomes Boro’s first signing of the January transfer window and will be at the Teeside up to 2020 donning shirt number 29.
He is available for Boro’s next fixture against Sheffield Wednesday next weekend and the African Cup of Nations is not an issue since his country didn’t qualify.
Featured Photo: Courtesy of Middlesbrough.com
