Middlesbrough confirm loan signing of Chelsea starlet Lewis Baker as replacement for Marten de Roon
Garry Monk secures England Under-21s midfielder from the Premier League champions as he fills void left by Dutch stars exit to Serie A side Atalanta
MIDDLESBROUGH have confirmed the loan signing of Chelsea midfielder Lewis Baker.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who has signed a new five-year contract with the Blues, has joined on a season-long deal.
The Dutch international left the Teessiders to rejoin Atalanta for £11.7million on Thursday.
And now Baker has completed his move he is determined to help Garry Monk’s side secure an instant return to the Premier League.
He told : “It’s going to be an exciting season, there are a lot of games in the Championship.
“I’m here to give my input and hopefully get the club back to the Premier League. Hopefully we can do that together.”
He added: “This opportunity arose and I thought it would be a great one for me.
“I think in this game there is always high pressure and big things expected.
“I see this as a great opportunity for me to come here and show what I can do.
“I already know what the Championship is about. I’m going to give it my all and hopefully we get back to where we should be.”
Baker has been at Stamford Bridge since 2005 but has only made one appearance for the club.
That came more than three years ago in an FA Cup third round tie.
Since then he has been sent out for spells with Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons.
And Baker has spent the last two campaigns in Holland with Eredivisie outfit Vitesse Arnhem.
He enjoyed his best season so far last time out as he bagged 15 goals and helped them to win the Dutch Cup for the first time.
His capture is another significant coup for the Teessiders since Monk’s arrival.
They broke their transfer record to bring in Britt Assombalonga and have also added Darren Randolph, Ashley Fletcher, Martin Braithwaite, Cyrus Christie and Jonny Howson.
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