Middlesbrough have confirmed the free transfer signing of Andre Bikey on a one-year-deal, with the option of a further year.
Bikey has been training with the side from the North-East and Tony Mowbray has clearly been impressed with what he has seen from the former Reading and Burnley centre-half, who will provide cover in a position where the club are struggling with injuries.
Rhys Williams has been ruled out for a lengthy period after it emerged that he had damaged his ankle ligaments, making the signing of Bikey all the more crucial in Boro's push for promotion back to the Premier League.
Bikey becomes the club's 12th signing of the summer in what has been a very busy transfer period for Boro and after playing a vital role in securing Bristol City's Championship survival last year, he arrives with plenty of experience.
The Cameroonian also has over 20 caps for his country and cannot wait to get started at the Riverside Stadium.
Bikey told the club website: "I'm excited about the chance of helping Middlesbrough get back into the Premier League. The club just missed out on the play-offs last season and I can sense the ambition to go one better this year."
Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray was also excited at the prospect of Bikey in the club colours, stating: "Andre is a player I have liked for a long time. He is a different type of centre-half to what we have got.
Bikey has been training with the side from the North-East and Tony Mowbray has clearly been impressed with what he has seen from the former Reading and Burnley centre-half, who will provide cover in a position where the club are struggling with injuries.
Rhys Williams has been ruled out for a lengthy period after it emerged that he had damaged his ankle ligaments, making the signing of Bikey all the more crucial in Boro's push for promotion back to the Premier League.
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The Cameroonian also has over 20 caps for his country and cannot wait to get started at the Riverside Stadium.
Bikey told the club website: "I'm excited about the chance of helping Middlesbrough get back into the Premier League. The club just missed out on the play-offs last season and I can sense the ambition to go one better this year."
Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray was also excited at the prospect of Bikey in the club colours, stating: "Andre is a player I have liked for a long time. He is a different type of centre-half to what we have got.
"He is a very powerful defender who has real physicality and he also has good technical ability. Andre hasn't played a great deal of football in the last year but when he gets up to speed our supporters will see the qualities he possesses."
The club also sought to clarify what the defender's surname is, with some confusion over whether he will be known as Bikey or Amougou.
The club website says that his full family name is Andre Bikey-Amougou but his shirt name will simply read Bikey this season.
