Boro complete Pogatetz deal

Middlesbrough have completed the signing of Austrian Emanuel Pogatetz.

The highly-rated left back has signed a five-year deal and will officially become a Boro player on July 1.

Boro have agreed a deal worth £1.8 million with German giants Bayer Leverkusen.

Pogatetz came to Boro boss Steve McClaren's attention during last season's Uefa Cup campaign.

The 22-year-old impressed against Boro playing for Grazer and that convinced McClaren to pursue a deal.

"Emanuel has impressive international and European experience for a lad of his age. But he is only 22 and can go on improving, so we are looking to the future," said McClaren.

Pogatetz was delighted to have sealed his move to England.

"A dream is coming true. I have wanted to play in the Premier League since I was a young boy," he told the club's website.

"Middlesbrough was always the club I wanted to join, having played against them in the Uefa Cup, I was very impressed with Middlesbrough's stadium and the fans."

Pogatetz was snapped up by Bayer Leverkusen from FC Karnten in 2001 when they beat Ajax and Juventus to his signature.

However, things failed to work out for Pogatetz in Germany and he was sent out on loan to Swiss side FC Aarau and then had two more years with Grazer - before he joined up with Spartak Moscow earlier this year.

Spartak, along with Fulham, were keen to secure his services on a permanent basis, but Boro have won the race.

Pogatetz, who will provide high calibre competition for Franck Queudrue at left back, is Boro's second signing of the summer following the earlier capture of Yakubu Aiyegbeni.