Newcastle United have snapped up young prospect Givi Todua.
The 19 year-old, like senior teammate Jack Colback, is a former Sunderland player, though has spent the past three years with Middlesbrough. He has just won a 12-month deal with Newcastle.
Todua moved to England seven years ago from Russia, though his parents are Georgian.
"After the three-year contract, Middlesbrough offered me the chance to go through the pre-season with them," he told Izvestia.
"Middlesbrough is one of the best football academies in England. They developed players like Adam Johnson and Stewart Downing. For a while I was able to work with Aitor Karanka. You know he is an expert in football. He was able to work with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, and before that in the youth teams of Spain.
"At that time it was impossible for me to come up with something better. While I was considering the proposal, the invitation came from the Newcastle.
"The offer was the same: to trial and, if all goes well, get a contract. In the end I decided to go there."
