Stewart Downing leaves Hammers for Middlesbrough homecoming

Championship club Middlesbrough have announced the impressive capture of England international Stewart Downing on a four-year deal from West Ham United for a £5m fee, though that could rise to £7m should the Teesside team be promoted to the Premier League, which is an 11/4 chance with Coral.

“It’s great to be back home,” Downing told Boro’s official website. “I always said I wanted to come back to this club and I’m delighted the chance has now come. This is a good time to be coming back to Boro, and hopefully I can enjoy another four to five years playing at the top.

“This is a Premier League club with a really good team and they were so unlucky to lose out on promotion last season. It would be the biggest achievement of my career if I could help us get back into the Premier League. I’ve spoken to [head coach] Aitor Karanka and I can’t wait to pull on a Boro shirt again.

“There were other options on the table but it was moving back to Boro that really appealed to me. I can see what a good team they have and I’m as ambitious as ever to help this club succeed.”

CONFIRMED: Aitor Karanka delighted to capture Stewart Downing. http://t.co/wKBAFFdksY #UTB pic.twitter.com/ogdwddcyoL

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) July 16, 2015

“It’s an amazing signing for us. He’s more than just a player,” Middlesbrough boss Karanka added. “Nobody expected him to come here, but he wants to be here, and is completely committed to the club and the team. He is a very good person and I’m excited to work with him.”