Franck Queudrue: £2.5m deal (GaryMPrior/Allsport)

The Frenchman initially moved to the Riverside Stadium in October, on loan from Lens, with a view to a long-term move. After a number of outstanding displays, Queudrue has earned a £2.5million switch to Steve McClaren's side.

The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the club - but will miss the final game of the season and the first two of the 2002/03 campaign after being dismissed against Blackburn last month.

Queudrue, a former France 'B' international, scored for Boro on his home debut - a 2-0 win over local rivals Sunderland - and went on to feature in 34 of the club's next 35 games.

McClaren told the club's official website: 'He is the right age, the right character. He has come in and immediately settled down and from day one and he has proved he has been a great acquisition for this football club. He has improved from when he first came.

'But there is a lot more to come and as I say he is at that perfect age where he is in a good environment and he should be able to develop. Anyone who knows Franck knows that he copes with anything, he is not fazed by anything that is thrown at him, which is I think a tremendous asset for any player to have.

'I think the most important thing is yes on the field he has proved what he can do, but off the field he has become a favourite in the dressing room and a favourite among the fans.

'For some reason, I don't if it's his football or his looks, but he certainly has a fan base of ladies out there.'

Queudrue himself said: 'Every player, I think, has an ambition to play for his national team and I would love to play for my national team. But the most important thing before I can play in the national team is to play well for Middlesbrough, and maybe then the national team.

'I have enjoyed being here. It's been good for me because when you come from another club, it's very difficult to prove yourself when you're on loan. To win a permanent move afterwards is very difficult, but I'm very happy about it.