Boro bag Ricketts

Bolton striker Michael Ricketts last night joined Middlesbrough for £3.5million just half-an-hour before the transfer window closed.

Wanderers will also pick up a percentage of any future profits made on the forward by Boro.

The arrival of Ricketts completed a day of frenzied activity at the Riverside Stadium, with Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott also joining the club.

A Bolton spokesperson said: "Michael Ricketts has joined Middlesbrough for £3.5million plus a percentage of future profits. The transfer was concluded at 11.30pm last night"

Middlesbrough secured Ricketts' signature after Tottenham appeared to be the original favourites.

There were reports that the Middlesbrough deal had stalled after he travelled north to agree personal terms and pass a medical.

But Bolton boss Sam Allardyce finally got an acceptable bid with the clock ticking down.

Spurs had made a player-exchange offer to Bolton, which was flatly rejected by Allardyce.

Ricketts was known to be keen on a move to White Hart Lane and posted a transfer request, which was granted.

However, up until transfer deadline day it looked as though he would be staying at Bolton and he was pencilled in for the match against Birmingham today.

Ricketts won one cap for England last year but his form has dipped since then.

He arrives at Middlesbrough having scored just seven goals this season and has failed to win a regular place in the side.

Allardyce now has a shortage of strikers going into the crucial match against Birmingham.

Salva Ballesta arrived on loan this week from Valencia but his international clearance arrived too late to make him eligible for the game.