Middlesbrough transfer news: Villa striker Rudy Gestede joins Boro on three-year-deal
Boro boss Aitor Karanka bolsters attacking options with his first signing of the January window
MIDDLESBROUGH have signed Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede.
The Benin international moves to the Riverside for around £6million on a contract until the summer of 2020.
The 28-year-old moved to Villa from Blackburn in July 2015 for £6m and scored five goals for the West Midlands side as they were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The club have confirmed the capture Gestede on their website stating: “Boro have completed the signing of Rudy Gestede from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.”
Boro are in need of more firepower, they are 16th in the Premier League, four points above the relegation zone, more worrying for boss Aitor Karanka is his side are the joint-lowest scorers this season - along with bottom side Hull - with 17 goals in 20 games.
Gestede made 19 appearances for Villa this season, scoring four goals, and despite Jonathan Kodjia and Jordan Ayew who will both be on African Cup of Nations duty, Villa boss Steve Bruce has allowed the big striker to leave.
The former Blackburn strikers arrival on Teesside calls into question the futures fringe players Jordan Rhodes and David Nugent who both look surplus to requirements.