Middlesbrough confirm Lee signing

Permit problem
Lee, who has found the net 22 times in 64 appearances for his country, had not played the required 75 per cent of competitive internationals required for a permit in the last year because of a serious knee ligament injury sustained in April 2006. However, the necessary documents have now been granted with the forward inking an 18-month contract with the 2005/06 UEFA Cup finalists. Lee will be hoping for more success than he had during his first spell in Europe, when he failed to score in seven substitute appearances for Bremen in 2000/01. Leaving Middlesbrough, meanwhile, is former Arsenal FC and England midfielder Ray Parlour, who has been released after two and a half seasons with the north-east club.