Boateng signs new Boro deal

George Boateng has signed a three-year contact with Middlesbrough.

The Dutch midfielder had been out of cntract at the end of June but has now committed to the club until the summer of 2009 after lengthy negotiations.

The 30-year-old told the club’s official website, www.mfc.co.uk: “It’s such good news because this is the only thing that I have wanted.

“It’s been a long time coming because I think it was last year when I started negotiations with the club.”

Boateng, who missed out on a place in the Holland World Cup squad, joined Boro from Aston Villa in a £5million deal four years ago.

He played a key role in the club’s run to the UEFA Cup final this year and Boro, despite not having a manager in place for next season, were keen to conclude talks to keep him.

It was feared the player could follow the example of compatriot Boudewijn Zenden and leave the club on a free transfer but he insisted he wanted to remain at the Riverside.

He added: “Right from the start I made my feelings quite clear that I wanted to stay.

“Everybody was well aware of Bolo’s situation last year – and I know a lot of people thought I was going to do the same thing and leave the club.

“But I wasn’t waiting to see if there was anything better out there. I have kept my word. I haven’t disappointed anybody.

“It was simply that we – that is me and the club – had other priorities. Every time we thought there might be time to sit down to talk something else important came along so we had to postpone negotiations.

“I was always confident it would be sorted out.”