MIDDLESBROUGH new boy Gary O'Neil last night insisted that moving to Teesside was a sign of progress in his career after completing the £5m move just 40 minutes before the midnight deadline.

With the transfer window almost closed, the O'Neil deal overcame a late snag over an ankle operation he had in May to finalise the transfer from Portsmouth.

And, after signing a three-year deal at the Riverside Stadium, the former England Under-21 international is already looking to quickly establish himself as a regular in Gareth Southgate's side.

"I'm disappointed to leave Portsmouth but this was a fantastic offer that I wanted to take," said the London-born 24-year-old.

"Hopefully I will play week in and week out here, that's what I want but I will not be taking anything for granted.

"I see it as a step forward for myself and I'm just pleased it has finally been achieved.

"Middlesbrough didn't need selling to me, the manager has been there as a player and only recently stepped into management.

"He also knows what it is like to make the move from down south to the North-East and hopefully that will help me settle in."

O'Neil is expected to watch Middlesbrough's match with Birmingham City from the Riverside stands this afternoon and is hoping to make his debut at West Ham in a fortnight's time.

Boro boss Southgate said: "I'm just glad it's done and with 40 minutes to spare. That's an improvement on last year when we went right up to the deadline. There was a small problem with his ankle but that's all sorted now."

Danny Murphy has joined Fulham on a one-year loan deal from Tottenham.