If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
Arca has swapped Wearside for Teesside
Middlesbrough have completed the signing of Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca for a fee of £1.75m.
The 25-year-old Argentine, who has been with the Black Cats for six years, was unveiled by Boro this afternoon after agreeing a five-year deal.
Arca said: "Last season was hard for everyone and it was very disappointing to go out of the Premiership.
"I spent several years at Sunderland and was very happy there, but you have to do what is right for your career."
Arca, who was also interesting Spanish side Espanyol, joined Sunderland for £3.5m from Argentinos Juniors and became a huge favourite on Wearside.
But he was given permission to talk to Boro by new Sunderland boss Niall Quinn.
He added: "When Middlesbrough came in, obviously I wanted to listen. This is a big club and these opportunities don't come along every day."
He becomes the first senior signing for the Teesside club under new manager Gareth Southgate.
Southgate said: "As soon as I discovered that Julio was available it didn't take us long to make a decision.
He is also a player who excites the fans and can make us a better club
Gareth Southgate
"In the games against Boro last year, Julio showed us exactly what he can do so I am delighted to be able to bring such a top-quality player to the club.
"The thing about Julio is that he symbolises the way I want to play. I want a team that thinks and that attacks, and Julio has shown me on the occasions that I have played against him that he is an attacking player.
"He can play in midfield or he can play at left-back, and I want my full-backs to push forward this season. Julio can do that.
"He has been very loyal to Sunderland for the last five years and I know that he has the right kind of character that I want to bring into the dressing room.
"He is also a player who excites the fans and can make us a better club."
It caps a promising week for Southgate, who has seen Chris Riggott and Andrew Taylor sign new deals.
Arca was in the final year of his contract and Quinn admitted he had a clause in his deal allowing him to talk to Premiership clubs following Sunderland's relegation.
Quinn had tried to persuade Arca to stay with the club, and promised to match Boro's offer.
But the lure of Premiership football, while staying in the north-east, appears to have been too much for the former Argentina Under-21 international.
Quinn said earlier: "I'm not cross - he has already stayed once after this club went down - but I am disappointed as he is a terrific guy and a smashing player."
Arca remained loyal to the club despite their previous relegation to the Championship in 2003.
And he even signed a new two-year extension in November 2004, despite interest from the likes of Newcastle, Celtic and Italian side Fiorentina.
He made 177 appearances for the club, scoring 23 goals.
and sounds like he has been bought as a left back...
07-27-2006, 05:28 PM
The Middlesbrough 06/07 Thread. "lets get back into Europe!" Post #113
Arca is expected to be handed the left-back role because Frenchman Franck Queudrue is on the verge of leaving the Riverside to join Fulham, having flown out to Austria to join the Londoners' training camp.
The £2m transfer deal could be completed by the weekend.
Arca has been with Sunderland since 2000, having joined them as a teenager in a £3.75m move from Argentinos Juniors.
He was initially used as a lively and penetrative winger, but was then moved to left-back, from where he has effectively pushed forward to support attacks.
In 177 appearances for the Wearsiders, Arca scored 23 goals, but he has also been responsible for many assists and will be given freedom to push forward at the Boro.
Definitely sounding like a LB.
Oh, and the Gazette says the Huth loan deal is looking good, he's having an operation and will be available from September.
07-27-2006, 05:40 PM
The Middlesbrough 06/07 Thread. "lets get back into Europe!" Post #114
Originally posted by BoroPhil:
<BLOCKQUOTE>
Arca is expected to be handed the left-back role because Frenchman Franck Queudrue is on the verge of leaving the Riverside to join Fulham, having flown out to Austria to join the Londoners' training camp.
The £2m transfer deal could be completed by the weekend.
Arca has been with Sunderland since 2000, having joined them as a teenager in a £3.75m move from Argentinos Juniors.
He was initially used as a lively and penetrative winger, but was then moved to left-back, from where he has effectively pushed forward to support attacks.
In 177 appearances for the Wearsiders, Arca scored 23 goals, but he has also been responsible for many assists and will be given freedom to push forward at the Boro.
Definitely sounding like a LB.
Oh, and the Gazette says the Huth loan deal is looking good, he's having an operation and will be available from September. </BLOCKQUOTE>
yeah but we're gonna be spending £4m on distin die southgate
07-28-2006, 05:53 PM
The Middlesbrough 06/07 Thread. "lets get back into Europe!" Post #115
£4m on a player who is out of contract at the end of this season is financial stupidity, wait 6 months agree a deal with him get him for nothing in a seasons time.
07-28-2006, 05:56 PM
The Middlesbrough 06/07 Thread. "lets get back into Europe!" Post #116
I'm quite pleased we're getting Huth. He's a good strong defender. I've heard people on the local radio saying "He can't get in the Chelsea team" Well its not likely when they have Terry, Gallas and Carvalho is it? I'm impressed by him saying he wants to come here in the media aswell.
07-28-2006, 09:42 PM
The Middlesbrough 06/07 Thread. "lets get back into Europe!" Post #118
Seems like we got a decent amount for Franck considering he had one year left. £3m plus additional payments based on apperances
Also, our three goals against Barnsley were very well-worked. First one was a 20 pass movement. True it was Barnsley but it was good to see us keep the ball on the ground and some good neat build-up work. Pogo's cross for the third was superb; the lad has a good cross on him let's hope we see a improvement this year.
07-31-2006, 11:36 AM
The Middlesbrough 06/07 Thread. "lets get back into Europe!" Post #119
Portsmouth look to have won the race to sign Manchester City's £4m defender Sylvain Distin. It appears that City boss Stuart Pearce has given up hope of enticing the Frenchman to sign a new deal at Eastlands.
Last week Pearce stripped him of the captaincy and handed it to fellow defender Richard Dunne.
The news is a blow for Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who has made Pearce well aware of his interest in signing Distin.
Story continues
ADVERTISEMENT
Southgate wanted to bring in the 28-year-old as his own replacement in the heart of the Boro defence.
But if the weekend reports are confirmed, Distin has made up his mind to link up with Harry Redknapp instead.
However, Boro are working towards completing the signing of Robert Huth, who will arrive on Teesside in a loan deal.
The 21-year-old Chelsea defender has had an ankle operation and will continue with his recuperation when he arrives at Rockliffe Park.
The German is not expected to be fit until the middle of September, which means that Southgate could opt to box things up for the first few weeks of the campaign while he waits for Huth.
The role of starting the season alongside Chris Riggott could yet be handed to Ugo Ehiogu, who has played in Boro's last two friendlies - though he came off as a precaution with a hamstring twinge at Sheffield Wednesday.
I wonder who it will be...
die southgate
Linear Mode
