Leeds United have completed the signing of Middlesbrough striker Patrick Bamford. The fee is believed to be £7 million, possibly rising to £10 million with add-ons. Bamford has committed himself to an four-year contract at Elland Road.
Leeds Sign Patrick Bamford From Middlesbrough
Bamford has spent just one and a half seasons permanently at the Riverside stadium, scoring 12 goals in 47 appearances. He also spent the 2014/15 season there on loan from Chelsea, where he scored 17 times in 38 games.
Bamford had a number of unsuccessful loan spells following his first stint with Boro. He didn’t score at all in his time at Crystal Palace, Norwich or Burnley, and made only 19 appearances for all three put together.
The permanent move to Middlesbrough was a salvation for Bamford, rescuing his career from a dramatic decline. However, Leeds seem intent on spending money this season in an attempt to reach the Premier League and the purchase of Bamford is a signal of their intent.
What This Means For Bamford
For Bamford, it will be a chance to fully rectify his career and to show off the skills that he possesses. While things have improved for him, 12 goals in a year and a half is far from ideal. It gives him a fresh start with a new team and a chance for new manager Marco Bielsa to get the best out of him, something that has not happened since his previous spell with Boro or his time at MK Dons as a youngster.
What They Had to Say
Bamford issued the following message to Middlesbrough fans via Twitter:
“Now that everything is finalised I’d just like to thank Boro and everyone associated with the club for this past year and a half. Naturally, there were ups and downs but I enjoyed every minute of it. A special mention to the fans who always gave me their full support.”
Main Photo
