Middlesbrough secure Emmanuel Latte Lath replacement as former Leicester City man completes loan
Middlesbrough have completed the signing of striker Kelechi Iheanacho on loan from Sevilla.
Iheanacho, 28, was the man Boro decided to pursue as they needed a replacement for Emmanuel Latte Lath, who has joined Atlanta United in a club-record sale. Iheanacho joins in a straight loan deal, with no purchase option included, and with Boro paying only a percentage of his wage.
The Nigerian international is no stranger to English football or winning promotion from the Championship. Though he had injury troubles last term, he still managed five goals for Leicester City as they earned an immediate return to the Premier League. Prior to that, he scored 30 Premier League goals in 150 appearances for the Foxes.
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He joined Spanish side Sevilla in the summer but his move has not worked out. He's made only five league starts this season and failed to score a goal, which meant Sevilla were happy to sanction his loan move to Teesside. The striker arrived from Madrid on Sunday to finalise the move.
Celtic also had interest in the pacy centre-forward this month, but Boro moved to secure the loan capture after agreeing a fee with MLS side Atlanta United for Latte Lath. He started his professional career at Manchester City before spending seven years at the King Power Stadium.
Iheanacho will compete with Tommy Conway for Boro's starting spot up front for the remainder of the season. If the move proves a success, there appears nothing stopping it being made a permanent move, though for now focus will be on the rest of this season as Michael Carrick's side aim to win promotion back to the Premier League.
Iheanacho became Boro's sixth signing of the January transfer window, following the earlier deadline day capture of Samuel Iling-Junior, who went straight into the squad for Monday evening's clash with Sunderland. Earlier in the window they tied up permanent deals for Morgan Whittaker and George Edmundson, as well as loan deals for Mark Travers and Ryan Giles.