Middlesbrough FC on the cusp of multi-million transfer breakthrough - Birmingham City had previously shown interest | OneFootball

Middlesbrough have agreed a deal to sign Sontje Hansen from NEC.

Middlesbrough have agreed a deal with Eredivisie side NEC for the transfer of striker Sontje Hansen, which will see the forward join on a 'multi-year contract'.

It's been a hectic few days for Boro as Rav Van den Berg is set to join FC Koln on a permanent deal, and they suffered a humiliating 4-0 loss at the hands of Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the EFL Cup.

However, in more positive news, reports from Dutch football journalist Mounir Boualin via X suggest that a deal to sign NEC striker Hansen has been agreed, with the 23-year-old on his way to Teesside to sign a multi-year deal.

The Dutchman has been a target of both Boro and Championship rivals Birmingham City this summer, but the latest reports suggest the former are closing in on securing his services after a fee was agreed between them and NEC.

Hansen scored six goals and assisted four in 32 Eredivisie outings last season, and now heads to England looking to transform Rob Edwards' attack at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough strike €3.5m transfer agreement with NEC for Sontje Hansen

The former Ajax prodigy has spent the last few years at fellow Dutch side NEC, where he scored 13 goals in 72 appearances, and assisted a further nine across all competitions.

Over the summer, both Middlesbrough and Birmingham have been keeping tabs on the 23-year-old, but it seems that the former are set to win the race to sign him this summer.

According to Boualin, a deal has been struck between the Nijmegen-based club and Boro. It was initially reported that Hansen would join the Championship club for a fee of around €4.5m (£3.9m), but later reports from The Echo's Dominic Shaw via X suggest the fee is around €3.5m (£3m).

Hansen will now travel to England to finalise the move, and reportedly sign a multi-year contract at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro might have pulled off a huge coup by winning the race for Hansen

Hansen hasn't been short of suitors this summer, with a whole host of clubs keen on landing his signature, such as Ajax, Birmingham, Wrexham, RC Lens, and FC Copenhagen all keeping tabs on him.

However, Middlesbrough are set to become the ones to bring the 23-year-old in. This could be a major coup for Edwards, as the former Dutch youth international comes with an excellent pedigree after his time with Ajax.

Whilst Hansen will need to prove himself in England, he could be a hugely important signing for Boro's attacking unit, thanks to his versatility, speed and flair, which will make him a handful for Championship defenders.

It's an exciting acquisition for the Teesside club, as the level of interest in the forward throughout the summer suggests this could be a really smart signing from Edwards.