Marvin Emnes says he was convinced about joining Middlesbrough by their reputation for giving young players their chance.

The former Heerenveen winger told the Sunday Sun: "I spoke with my agent and some other people and everybody convinced me that Middlesbrough is a club that offers a lot of opportunities to young players.

"I could have gone to Feyenoord or Ajax. If I had gone to Ajax, they are a team that buys a lot of players, some from abroad with a lot of experience, so I'm guessing I would have got fewer chances there.

"And the playing style at Feyenoord is very different from the style I used to play at Sparta and I would probably have got fewer chances over there too.

"It's up to me now to grab this opportunity that Middlesbrough have given to me. It's a new challenge. A lot of things are waiting out there for me and I can't wait to grab them."