DONE DEAL: Middlesbrough complete £9million Jordan Rhodes signing from Blackburn Rovers

Boro faced a race against time to secure the services of the 25-year-old but the title-chasing Championship side have pulled off a major coup.

The Scotland international arrives as one of the most prolific goalscorers to have graced the Football League in recent years having enjoyed successful spells with both Huddersfield Town and Blackburn.

Rhodes, who smashed records galore at Huddersfield, was the Football League’s leading scorer in 2011-12 when he fired the Terriers to promotion from League One with 36 goals in the season.

He scored 87 goals in 148 appearances during a three-year stint at Huddersfield, prompting Blackburn to splash out £8m for his services in August 2012.

The Scotland international hit 28 in his first season in the Championship with Blackburn and scored 85 goals in 169 appearances for the Ewood Park club.

Rhodes has scored 11 goals this season, including a run of seven in five games earlier in the season.

Head coach Aitor Karanka was determined to add firepower to his promotion challengers after missing out on a return to the Premier League in last season's Championship play-off final.

The Teessiders are also hopeful of sealing a loan deal for Leicester's 27-year-old Belgian defender Ritchie de Laet, who has been used largely as a substitute in recent weeks by the surprise Premier League leaders.