MIDDLESBROUGH have completed the signing of Alex Bangura, the left-back who they've courted throughout the course of the summer.

The 24-year-old has joined from Dutch second tier side SC Cambuur and signed a four-year contract at the Riverside.

He's Boro's 12th signing of the summer and, unless there's any dramatic and unexpected late twist in the final hours of the window, he'll the last new arrival at the Riverside.

Boro head coach Michael Carrick said: "He's a really exciting signing. He's a left-back and he's captained his team.

"He's a good character with a great personality and he won't have any problem fitting into the group."

Bangura will provide competition for Lukas Engel, who joined earlier this summer and has played the last three games at left-back. Boro also have Hayden Coulson, though game-time now looks set to be hard to come by for the 25-year-old, who has been absent from the squad for the last two games because of a thigh injury.

Sierra Leone international Bangura is a winger turned full-back who has impressed in Holland. He started out at Feyenood and turned down a return to the club last summer.

He had moved into the last 12 months of his contract at Cambuur and wanted a move after the club's relegation from the Eredivisie last season. A switch to England was always understood to be the defender's preference.

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There are no more new arrivals expected at Boro before the 11pm deadline, though Martin Payero remains on track to complete his permanent move to Udinese.

Boro had been in the market for a striker in the final days of the window but made clear they'd only pursue what they deemed to be the "right" deals. Although they have continued to monitor the market, it was clear on Thursday that a striker was unlikely to arrive when Carrick confirmed Josh Coburn would be staying at the club rather than leaving on loan.

Sam Greenwood, who joined from Leeds on Thursday, is as comfortable playing up-front as he is at No.10, while Carrick also has Morgan Rogers, Matt Crooks and Marcus Forss as striker options, as well as first choice frontman Emmanuel Latte Lath.