Geremi agrees Middlesbrough move

Real Madrid CF's Cameroonian international Geremi has agreed to spend the 2002/03 season on loan with FA Premiership side Middlesbrough FC.

Work permit
The 23-year-old, who played in all three of Cameroon's 2002 FIFA World Cup finals games, should move to the Riverside stadium after successfully undergoing medical tests at the club, but he will have to wait until he receives a work permit before he is certain of his future.

'Personal terms'
"I'm pleased to say Geremi passed a medical and agreed personal terms with us last night and we will now be applying to the Department of Employment for a work permit," Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb told the club's official website today.

'A quality player'
"I'm delighted to have finally signed a player that I first wanted last summer, especially as several other top clubs were interested in him," added Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren. "Geremi's a quality player who can play anywhere in midfield.

'The right age'
"He's a good athlete, strong and quick. He's got an excellent footballing pedigree, with great experience at both club and international level," said the manager. "We've got him from the best team in Europe and, at 23, he's the right age too. I'm very pleased."

Surprise move
Geremi's move to Teesside will surprise many in English football, not least because the player was linked with a similar move to Middlesbrough's FA Premiership rivals Chelsea FC earlier this summer. Manager Claudio Ranieri had said that a deal had been arranged with Madrid for both Geremi and Brazilian midfield player Flavio Conceição, but the London club were forced to pull out of the deal.

Squad reduction
After a season which saw him help Cameroon to win the 2002 African Cup of Nations and play in Madrid's successful UEFA Champions League campaign, Geremi is being loaned out as coach Vicente del Bosque aims to trim the Madrid squad from 32 down to 25 in time for the start of the new campaign.