Sheffield United have signed Mark Yeates from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.
Winger signs two-and-a-half year deal at Bramall Lane
Sheffield United have signed Mark Yeates from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell had been tracking the 25-year-old winger since his days at Colchester but lost out to Boro, who landed the Irishman last summer.
Yeates had been a regular under former Boro boss Gareth Southgate in the Teessiders' stint in the Championship after being relegated from the Premier League last season.
But since the appointment of Gordon Strachan as Southgate's successor, the former Tottenham midfielder has found first-team opportunities limited at the Riverside Stadium.
And Strachan, who strengthened his midfield with the purchases of Celtic duo Barry Robson and Willo Flood, has deemed Yeates surplus to requirements, much to the delight of Blackwell.
Delighted
"I've had my eye on him for year or two but we couldn't agree terms with Colchester," the Blades boss revealed on the club's
official website.
"I'm delighted to finally get my man, although I'm surprised Boro would let him go."
Yeates, who has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Bramall Lane, is cup-tied for the Blades' FA Cup clash against Premier League Bolton at the weekend after playing for Boro in their third round defeat to Manchester City.
But the winger, who will wear the number 11 shirt, is expected to make his debut in next Tuesday's league clash with Reading.
Yeates becomes the second player to join United in the transfer window after striker Richard Cresswell moved to the Steel City on a permanent basis from Stoke City.
