George Boateng Bio Send To Friend  

George Boateng became one of Hull City's first signings following their promotion to the Premier League when moving from Middlesbrough for a fee of around £1million in July 2008.

A strong and combative midfielder, the former Netherlands international will add vital experience to the Tigers' side. He is a real hard-worker and creator, whose passing skills are complemented by a fiercely competitive nature.

He came to England in December 1997 when moving to Coventry City from Feyenoord for just £250,000. He started his career at Excelsior as a youth.

The midfielder was then signed by Aston Villa for a fee of £4.5million in the summer of 1999 amid high controversy. Sky Blues' chairman Bryan Richardson accused Villa of making an illegal approach for the player who had destroyed them in a 1999 Premiership game at Villa Park.

Boateng made his Aston Villa debut in a 1-0 win at Newcastle United, grabbing his first goal a few weeks later in a 5-0 League Cup trouncing of Chester City. He soon became an important cog in the Villa midfield.

And he was handed his first international cap with Holland in November 2001, against Denmark.

However, things started to go wrong at the end of the 2001/02 season for club and player. Boateng went away for the summer with boss Graham Taylor unable to contact him, and it soon became clear the Dutchman was itching for a move away.

In July 2002, Middlesbrough had a bid turned down and Taylor admitted Boateng would eventually move on for the right price. Boateng joined Boro a month later for £5million after playing 35 games and scoring five goals for Aston Villa.

He made his Boro debut in a goalless draw at Southampton and soon became an important and popular player.

Boateng was part of the Boro side which lifted the Carling Cup that season in 2003/04.

When Gareth Southgate took the position as Boro manager in 2006 he wasted no time in appointing Boateng as his replacement as captain and signed the Dutch international to a new three-year contract. But in 2007/08 he fell out of favour and it became clear he would have to move on after 223 games for the club, bound for the KC Stadium.