Downing deal boosts Boro
15 Feb 2008 - 14:50:06
England left-winger Stewart Downing has pledged his long-term future to Middlesbrough by agreeing a new five-year contract at the Riverside.
The 23-year-old had been hotly tipped to leave the Teessiders in the January transfer window, with Spurs heading the chase for his signature as talks over a new deal stalled.
However, Downing has now opted to stay put and in doing so has handed Boro boss Gareth Southgate a massive boost, with the midfielder now tied to the club until the summer of 2012.
Club chief executive Keith Lamb had stated earlier this week: "I am very confident that we will reach agreement sooner rather than later.
"It is something that myself and chairman Steve Gibson have been very conscious of and have been working at over the last couple of weeks.
"I would not like to put a date on it, but I would hope that within the next four to six weeks we will get a solution that's acceptable to Stewart and to the football club.
"Then we can put it to bed and Stewart can concentrate on playing his football."
Downing has scored 15 goals in 176 appearances for Boro in all competitions, as well as winning 16 caps for England to date.