Gaizka Mendieta will move to Middlesbrough for the rest of the season after Italian club Lazio agreed a loan deal for the Spanish midfielder.
Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao were also understood to have shown interest in securing Mendieta.
But Lazio and Mendieta's agent confirmed this morning the player is set to play his football on Teesside this season on loan with a view to a permanent move.
The transfer market closes on August 31st, and Lazio earlier announced that Mendieta would not play at the Stadio Olimpico this season, which confirmed his imminent move.
The attacking midfielder, a key figure in Valencia's teams that reached the Champions League finals in successive years, has had a dip in form since his move to Serie A two years ago.