Yeates was playing in League One with Colchester last season

Middlesbrough have completed the signing of Colchester winger Mark Yeates for an undisclosed fee.

The Republic of Ireland B cap, 24, agreed terms on a three-year deal to become the first summer signing for manager Gareth Southgate.

Southgate said: "We've got a lad who has played in this division before and scored a lot of goals.

"He has a real hunger to play for our football club and a great desire to go beyond that."

"He is really looking forward to helping us try to win promotion," Southgate added.

Yeates, a former Tottenham Hotspur trainee, scored 25 goals in 116 league games for Colchester, including 13 goals in all competitions for the League One side last season.

And the winger believes he can bring those qualities to the Boro side next season, and bolster their bid for an immediate return to the Premier League.

For a winger, I think my goals record is pretty good. I got 13 last season Mark Yeates

"This club belongs in the Premier League, the fans deserve to be there and I can't wait to play in front of them," he said.

"It's a Premiership club in my mind - all you have to do is look around the facilities, the training ground, the stadium, everything is spot on.

"For a winger, I think my goals record is pretty good. I got 13 last season and eight by Christmas the season before until I got injured.

"I like to get on the ball and take on defenders. The number one job of being a wide man is creating chances and I certainly like to do that, but scoring goals isn't a bad habit to have either.

"I promise the fans I'll give 110%. I'm hungry to prove that I deserve to be here. I want to hit the ground running when the new season starts."

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