Why Jeremy Sarmiento snubbed Birmingham City for Middlesbrough FC - Tom Wagner won't like this | OneFootball

Middlesbrough have confirmed the signing of Jeremy Sarmiento

Jeremy Sarmiento has outlined why he wanted to sign for Middlesbrough instead of Birmingham City after making the switch from Brighton.

The forward has joined Kim Hellberg’s side on loan for the second half of the Championship season, with the club fighting for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

It’s been reported that a £3.2 million fee will be paid to make it a permanent move in the summer, regardless of the team’s league status.

Sarmiento spent the first half of the term on loan in Serie A with Cremonese, where he made just seven substitute appearances.

But the winger has now made the switch to Middlesbrough, despite also receiving interest from Chris Davies’ side in the weeks leading up to his arrival at Teesside.

Jeremy Sarmiento opens up on Middlesbrough decision

Sarmiento has claimed that the ambition of everyone at Middlesbrough is what convinced him to make the move there from Brighton.

He is hoping to make a big impact straight away, with the club competing for automatic promotion to the top flight, with a return to the division for the first time since 2017 now on the cards under Hellberg.

“I’m very pleased to finally be here,” said Sarmiento, via The Northern Echo.

“The ambition from everyone at the club is what attracted me to Boro.

"I’m hungry to get going and I can’t wait to show people what I can do.”

That Sarmiento has referenced Middlesbrough's ambition as a driving force behind his attraction towards a move to Teesside over the West Midlands makes for interesting reading for those of a Blues persuasion.

Birmingham's own ambition is well-documented under chairman Tom Wagner, and it's a factor which many ambitiously-recruited players often point out after signing for the club.

Wagner, then, may not like the fact that a rival club's ambition seemingly won over Sarmiento, though Middlesbrough's stronger chances of achieving promotion will have no doubt helped and Blues themselves are closing in on a high-profile addition in Deportivo Alaves winger Carlos Vicente.

Middlesbrough moved to within three points of leaders Coventry City with their emphatic 4-0 win over Preston North End last Saturday.

The Sky Blues’ 2-1 loss to Norwich City on Monday confirmed that three point gap with 17 games remaining, with Ipswich Town five adrift of the Teesside outfit in third.

However, Kieran McKenna’s side have a game in hand on their promotion rivals, meaning it is still very tight at the top of the Championship.

Next up for Middlesbrough is a home clash against the Canaries on 31 January in a 3pm kick-off, which could be Sarmiento’s first chance to show what he can do at his new club.

Jeremy Sarmiento breakthrough could be big for Middlesbrough

Birmingham looked to have stolen a march on Middlesbrough in the race for Sarmiento, but they have gotten their man over the line just days out from the deadline.

This could prove a big signing in the promotion battle, as the 23-year-old has proven himself at this level from his time on loan with Burnley last season.

He contributed four goals from 35 appearances in the Championship, with Scott Parker’s side coming second in the table.

If he can chip in with some goals and assists between now and May, then he’ll have proven a very smart signing and potentially worth the £3.2 million fee to Brighton.