Yannick Bolasie joins Middlesbrough on loan

Everton winger Yannick Bolasie has completed a loan move to Teeside for the remainder of the season, much to the delight of Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock.

Bolasie was on the verge of a move to Boro on deadline day last October, only for the move to fall through due to time restraints.

The DR Congo international took to Twitter last October to express how “disappointed” he was to not be linking up with his former boss Neil Warnock.

“Disappointed the deal couldn’t get done in time,” Bolasie said on Twitter.

“Signed and sent off, waited until 19:00 with real hope. All I want to do is say thank you to Neil Warnock and wish Middlesbrough all the best.”

With his move scuppered by the deadline, Bolasie revealed that his experience working with Warnock at Crystal Palace was the main reason he attempted to move to the Riverside.

“Gaffer’s vision and belief is why I wanted to come.” Said Bolasie

Warnock told the press that he has personally persuaded Bolasie to join Middlesbrough over a move to Turkey.

“I hope it’ll get done,” said the Boro boss. “I spoke to him, and he was going to go to Turkey. But he spoke to me and I said, ‘Look, just come and enjoy yourself for a couple of months – you can always go to Turkey and places like that later’.

“He owes me anyhow, because I did well for him at Crystal Palace. He’s looking forward to it, I think, and hopefully everything will be done in the next 24 hours.

“I was really flat earlier in the week because we were knocked back on two lads in the space of 24 hours. That’s why I was glad when Yannick spoke to me, and I’m glad he listened to me because I do think he’ll enjoy it here. It’ll give a lift to the lads because we haven’t really had anybody like that.”

Championship veteran Warnock sees his new signing Bolasie, 31, as a versatile attacker due to his spontaneous way of playing.

“I think he can do an (Michael) Antonio,” he said. “I’ve always thought, since Crystal Palace, he could do the type of things that Antonio has done at West Ham. He’s quite capable of going up front.

“He doesn’t know what he’s doing some of the time, he hasn’t got a clue, and Antonio is the same. They’re quite effective because centre-halves don’t know either.”

Bolasie is available to make his debut for the club on Saturday, with Middlesbrough travelling to Carrow Road to take on Championship table toppers Norwich City.

We're delighted to welcome @YannickBolasie to the #Boro! ✍️ #UTB

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 28, 2021