Brazilian Alves seals Boro switch

BBC Sport understands that the fee agreed with the Dutch side was in excess of £10m, beating the £8m paid for Italian Massimo Maccarone.

Alves, 27, who has signed a four-and-a-half year deal, secured a work permit earlier on deadline day.

"As usual at this time of the year it was a late night," Boro boss Gareth Southgate told the club website.

Alves began his career in Brazil with Atletico Miniero before moving to Sweden where he joined Orgryte in 2002.

He helped Malmo win the Swedish league title in 2004 and then headed to Heerenveen, scoring 45 goals in 38 appearances.

"His goalscoring record in Holland in particular but in Sweden too has been prolific. We hope he will reproduce that sort of form for us in the Premier League," added Southgate.

Alves made his international debut against England in June last year.

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