Nathan Porritt, who represented England at the Under-17s World Cup last year, has signed a two-year deal with Middlesbrough.
A left-sided midfielder or striker, 18-year-old Porritt found himself in the national spotlight in 2006 when Panorama's "Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets" investigation alleged the then 15-year-old had been offered to Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle without Boro's permission.