Benito Carbone's free transfer move from Bradford to Middlesbrough has collapsed at the 11th hour.
Bradford chairman Geoffrey Richmond had decided to let Carbone quit the club for nothing in a bid to save almost £350,000 on wages to the end of the season.
Boro then matched Carbone's salary demands, although it is believed the 29-year-old had opted to take a small pay cut on the £40,000-per-week he was being paid by City.
Carbone even passed a medical in anticipation of the move, but negotiations finally broke down after the two parties failed to agree on the length of contract.