Viduka completes move to Boro
Mark Viduka today joined the Leeds United exodus by completing a a £4.5m (€6m) move to Middlesbrough.
The 28-year-old Australia striker, who has signed a three-year deal, was unveiled at a Boro press conference along with full-back Michael Reiziger, a free transfer arrival from Barcelona.
Viduka, signed by Leeds from Celtic in June 2000, passed a medical last Friday and has since been negotiating a settlement on his Leeds contract.
Boro boss Steve McClaren will be hoping that in Viduka he has finally captured a forward who will deliver a regular supply of goals.
Viduka’s Elland Road exit follows those of Paul Robinson, Alan Smith, James Milner, Dominic Matteo, Nick Barmby and Stephen McPhail.
Boro chief executive Keith Lamb insisted the hold-up in the transfer – Viduka passed a medical last week – was not of his club’s or the player’s making but added: “The technical difficulties have all been resolved and Mark is now free of all encumbrance from Leeds.”
The Australian striker said: “I’m very excited. Just going into the dressing room, there are so many international players here and it reminds me of when I came to Leeds. Things were on the up and they were playing in Europe.
“I’m very excited to be part of this for the next three years at least.”
