Photo by Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Photo by Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Radek Vitek becomes the latest player to transfer from Manchester United to Middlesbrough, joining a long list of players to have done so.
Middlesbrough are paying £7m up front plus add-ons to sign Radek Vitek, and Manchester United also have a 35% sell-on clause as well as a buy-back option.
Vitek is leaving Old Trafford to get regular first-team football elsewhere. The arrival of Senne Lammens last year came at a bad time for the promising Czech goalkeeper, who will be a big addition for the Championship outfit as they push for Premier League promotion.
There have been at least six players who joined Middlesbrough from United. Vitek is just the latest.
Jonathan Greening winning the ball against Liverpool
Photo by PAUL BARKER / AFP via Getty Images
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Footballers who moved from Man Utd to Middlesbrough before Radek Vitek
Vitek is in established company in the list of players who left United for Middlesbrough.
Bryan Robson: In May 1994, Bryan Robson joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer to become player-manager. It signalled the end of his 13-year spell at the club, where he was fondly remembered as Captain Marvel.
Clayton Blackmore: The versatile defender joined Robson at Boro on a free transfer in June 1994 following over a decade at United. Clayton Blackmore spent five seasons at the Riverside Stadium.
Gary Walsh: The goalkeeper moved directly to Teesside in a deal worth £225,000 in March 1997, after making 63 appearances under Ferguson at United.
Gary Pallister: Solid in defence, Gary Pallister returned to Middlesbrough for £2.5m after nine years at United in 1998.
Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson: Boro signed the pair in a £3.5m double deal in August 2001.
⚡️ KEY TAKEAWAYS
After leaving Manchester United in 1994, Bryan Robson became player-manager at Middlesbrough
Robson brought Clayton Blackmore with him to the Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough once signed two United players in a double deal worth £3.5m
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Who have Man Utd signed from Middlesbrough?
Direct transfers in the opposite direction – to Old Trafford from Boro – are rare.
The primary example, however, proved to be a terrific signing for Sir Alex Ferguson.
United needed a commanding central defender when Ferguson signed Pallister from Middlesbrough for a then-British record transfer fee for a defender (£2.3m).
Pallister spent nine seasons at United, making 437 appearances for the club and winning four Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.