Boro sign Chelsea defender

Middlesbrough have recruited Chelsea centre-back Kenneth Omeruo on loan until the end of May.

The 20-year-old helped Nigeria to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations while starting all of their games, although he has since managed just a couple of appearances after injuring his shoulder at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

However, Omeruo made 36 appearances on loan at Dutch top-division side ADO Den Haag last season. He is still to make his Chelsea debut but is targeting a place at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, and is keen to work under Jose Mourinho’s former assistant, Aitor Karanka, at the Riverside.

“With the World Cup in June, it is important to have the chance of playing regularly,” Omeruo told BBC Sport. “Hopefully I can help Middlesbrough fight for promotion – nothing is impossible in football.”