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BORO have completed the signing of Jonathan Woodgate. The 32-year-old former England defender passed a medical earlier today and then put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

Woodgate is now likely to end his career on Teesside. The Middlesbrough-born defender was a free agent, didn't cost the club a penny in transfer fees.

His one-year deal with Stoke City lapsed last weekend and, despite offers to stay in the Premier League, the 32-year-old was enthused by the idea of coming back to Boro. Tentative discussions took place several weeks ago with both parties agreeable in principle to the move.

But it wasn’t until yesterday that formal talks got under way.

Understandably, there will be concerns about Woodgate’s fitness and whether his body will stand up to the rigours of a 46-game Championship season.

But Tony Mowbray is heartened by the fact that Woodgate played more than 20 games for Stoke last season, quite often out of position at full-back.

Replay our #woodywatch live blog from earlier today below

The Nunthorpe School pupil began his career with Leeds United and won his first international cap at the age of 19 in 1999.

After stints with Newcastle and Real Madrid, he signed for Boro in August 2006, initially on a year long loan before signing a long-term deal before the end of the 2006/07 season.

However, the following January he joined Spurs, where injuries took their toll and he was eventually released a year ago.

Tony Mowbray is prepared to take a punt on Woodgate because the classy defender managed more than 20 games last season for Stoke.

MORE DETAILS IN SATURDAY'S GAZETTE