BORO have smashed their transfer record by completing the signing of Brazilian striker Afonso Alves from Dutch side Heerenveen. However, the fee remains undisclosed.

The Brazil international, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, has signed a four-and-half year contract with Boro.

Boro completed the deal shortly before tonight's transfer window deadline after securing a work permit on appeal earlier in the day.

Alves passed had passed a medical and agreed personal terms earlier in the week. However, he must now await international clearance from the Dutch FA before making his debut for Boro.

The striker scored 45 goals in 38 league games for Heerenveen after signing from Swedish side Malmo for £3m during the summer of 2006.

In 2006-07, he was the Dutch top flight's Player of the Year and top scorer with 34 goals in 31 league games. This season he had added another 11 goals in just seven appearances, including seven in a 9-0 win over Heracles.

He made his international debut in a friendly against England in June 2007 and has since won seven further caps for his country.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "I'm delighted to have completed the deal. As usual at this time of the year, it was a late night but Afonso brings us something different in that he is a goalscorer who does much of his best work inside the box.

"His goalscoring record in Holland in particular but in Sweden too has been prolific. We hope he will reproduce that sort of form for us in the Premier League."

Born in Belo Horizonte, Alves began his career in Brazil with Atletico Miniero before moving to Sweden with Gothenburg-based Orgryte in 2002. He won the Swedish league title with Malmo in 2004.

*Striker Ben Hutchinson has signed for Glasgow Celtic on a three-and-a-half year deal, with Boro receiving a compensation fee.