Exclusive: Middlesbrough agree £2m deal to sign Aston Villa player

Middlesbrough have agreed a deal to sign Aston Villa midfielder Finn Azaz permanently, sources have told Football Insider.

Boro have beaten off interest from Southampton, Bristol City and Toulouse for the 23-year-old in what will be a statement signing.

The north-east outfit have agreed to pay Villa a fee of around £2million for Azaz after having a bid accepted.

Should the player now agree personal terms with Middlesbrough, then the deal will be finalised.

Azaz has caught the eye in the Championship this season in his second loan spell at Plymouth Argyle.

The 23-year-old, who spent all of last season at Home Park as the Pilgrims won the League One title, has been a standout performer for the Devon club again in the second tier.

But he is now set to be recalled by his parent club Aston Villa and make the permanent move to Middlesbrough.

Azaz has made 28 appearances across all competitions for Plymouth so far this term, notching seven goals and five assists.

He racked up eight goals and 10 assists in 39 games in Argyle’s promotion campaign last season.

The London-born star, who played once for Ireland at Under-21 level, can play in various central midfield roles.

He joined Aston Villa from West Brom in 2021 but failed to make a senior appearance for either side.

But loan spells at Plymouth, Cheltenham and Newport County should leave Azaz well-equipped to make his mark under Michael Carrick as Middlesbrough chase a play-off berth in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.

Boro currently sit 12th, four points adrift of sixth-place Sunderland.

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