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Middlesbrough capture Dutch starlet

04/07/2008

Middlesbrough have confirmed the £3.2 million signing of up-and-coming Dutch forward Marvin Emnes from Sparta Rotterdam.

The 20-year-old, who has already agreed personal terms and passed a medical, has signed a four-year contract at the Riverside.

Emnes, a Netherlands under-21 international, has 55 Eredivisie games under his belt and had attracted interest from Dutch giants Ajax and Feyenoord.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate said he was delighted to add to his squad's attacking options.

"We feel we have signed an exciting young player in Marvin," he explained.

Emnes enjoyed his breakthrough season at Sparta last year, scoring eight goals in his last ten games.

Southgate said the attacker, who can play across the frontline, would augment Boro's emphasis on youth and pace in attack.

"Marvin is very enthusiastic about coming to England and the challenge of Premier League football," he continued.

"He also fits the profile of the sort of players we want at Middlesbrough, in that he is a young player with hunger, energy and pace."

Emnes is due to face his old team-mates when Boro play Sparta in Rotterdam in the Teessiders final pre-season friendly on August 8th.