Nigeria professional striker, Kelechi Iheanacho completed his medical with Championship side, Middlesbrough on Monday ahead of his unveiling for a loan move until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old Nigerian international has agreed to join the 2004 EFL Cup winners, with Michael Carrick’s side having the option to make the transfer permanent in the summer.

According to Sky Sports, Middlesbrough will cover nearly the entire €2m that Iheanacho is still owed by Sevilla for the remainder of the campaign.

Iheanacho endured a difficult spell in Spain since joining Sevilla from Leicester City last summer, failing to score in nine La Liga appearances. His only goals for the club came in the Copa del Rey, where he netted three times.

The arrival of fellow Nigerian forward Akor Adams from Montpellier further limited Iheanacho’s chances at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. He has not featured for Sevilla since the January transfer window opened due to transfer speculation and a minor injury, with the Spanish club making it clear he is not part of their long-term plans.

The former Manchester City striker turned down offers from Greek clubs PAOK and Panathinaikos, as well as Italian side Venezia, in favour of returning to England. A potential move to Scottish champions Celtic, which would have reunited him with former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, also fell through.

Iheanacho will hope to rediscover his scoring touch at the Riverside Stadium as seventh-placed Middlesbrough chase promotion to the Premier League. The Championship side have collected 44 points from 29 matches and currently sit just outside the playoff places.

Credit: punchng.com