DONE DEAL: Middlesbrough swoop for Leicester City defender Ritchie De Laet and Standard Liege's Julien De Sart

The 27-year-old Belgian international joins on loan until the end of the season and follows Jordan Rhodes into the Riverside after confirmation of his £9million move.

Boro managed to get the deal for the defender over the line before tonight's 11pm deadline.

A Boro statement read: "De Laet brings a wealth of experience, having learnt his trade with Royal Antwerp and Manchester United before making over 120 appearances to help Leicester win promotion to the top-flight before establishing themselves as a Premier League side.

"The defender, whose first English club was Stoke City, has also enjoyed a number of successful loan spells, and has featured for Wrexham, Sheffield United, Preston, Portsmouth, and Norwich City."

De Laet has won two international caps for his country and also played at Under-21 level.

Meanwhile, Boro have also completed the signing of rising Belgian star Julien De Sart from Standard Liege on a three-and-a-half year contract, subject to international clearance.

The 21-year-old defensive midfielder, who has joined for an undisclosed fee, rose through the youth ranks at Liege and has made 66 appearances for the Belgian side since making his debut in 2013.

De Sart has also represented Belgium at every level from Under-16s to Under-21s but is yet to be capped for the senior squad.

Subject to clearance, he will be available for next weekend’s game against Blackburn Rovers at the Riverside.