Sheer jubilation rung around Middlesbrough today as the news that Stewart Downing has finally agreed a new 5-year deal began to circulate.
The England winger is BORO's top scorer this season and has been subject to heavy transfer speculation in the last year or so, with Tottenham reported favourite to sign him, on more than one occasion.
But today, he ended all doubt over his future by agreeing a five-year deal with his home town club, bringing delight to manager Gareth Southgate, "It's so important not only to sign new players but to keep hold of your best ones. It's fantastic news as a club and we're delighted that Stewart sees his future as being here. He's wanted to sort it out for a while and we're delighted to have been able to come to an agreement."
Downing, himself, cited the signing of Afonso Alves as one of the main reasons he decided to stay at the club. The signing, he believes, shows the club's ambition to succeed. Ambition, which former BORO player Jonathan Woodgate claimed the club was lacking in,
"It's my hometown club but I've told them that I didn't want us to stand still. Signing Alves shows how ambitious we are, the fact that the chairman was willing to splash out like that.
"The chairman has proved again just how much he wants this club to go forward. To be fair, the chairman and the manager have been spot on about it.
"They've never pressurised me, they've just made it clear that they wanted me to stay."
Downing can now focus on maintaining his recent good form with BORO and adding to his current goal tally of 5, though I'm sure who would rather turn provider for new boy Alves to grab the goals.
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