Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has revealed he beat off a series of Barclays Premier League competitors to land loan signing Josh McEachran. The 19-year-old midfielder completed a season-long switch from Chelsea to the Riverside Stadium on Monday.
Mowbray told the club's official website: "The competition was quite stiff, not just from the Championship, but Premier League clubs also wanted to take him on board.
"The boy felt he needed to come and play some football and we will give him the platform to do that if his performance levels warrant it.
"I've spoken to a few of the Chelsea staff and they appreciate the way we like to play and the reputation we have, and I think that helped our cause.
"He went on loan to Swansea last season and didn't play, for whatever reason.
"Hopefully we can find the right environment for him to come here and impact on our team and help us."
