Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has completed his loan move to championship side Middlesbrough from Chelsea.
Omeruo, who has been training with the Blues’ first team since recovering fully from a shoulder injury, needs to play regular football if he is to remain in contention for Nigeria in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Boro’s manager Aitor Karanka has used his relationship with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to secure the 20-year-old’s arrival at the Riverside stadium.
“I am happy Omeruo will come here to help us,” Karanka, who worked under Mourinho from 2010-2013 at the Bernabeu said.
Omeruo joined Chelsea from Standard Liege in January 2012 and immediately went on loan to Dutch top-flight side ADO Den Haag.
He secured a five year work permit, allowing him to stay in England in August but was not fully fit for a loan move during the summer transfer window as he was still recovering from injury.
Mourinho promoted him to first-team training after recovering from injury, but will now use the experience gained under Karanka to increase his chances of making coach Stephen Keshi’s squad.
“Training with the first-team at Chelsea is just not good enough for my progress and development,” Omeruo told BBC Sport.
“More significantly, I was highly recommended [to Karanka] by Jose Mourinho and that feels good.
“They [Karanka and Mourinho] speak to each other on a daily basis so I believe I’ll be in good hands.
“Apart from playing regularly and helping the team, this provides me with an opportunity to be sharp for the World Cup.”
