Bournemouth have signed midfielder Marcus Tavernier from Middlesbrough for £12.5 million on a five-year contract.
Tavernier began his career initially at Newcastle United before he moved to Middlesbrough at Under-14 level, from which he went on to graduate through Boro’s youth academy to make his senior debut in August 2017 in a 3-0 win over Scunthorpe United in Second Round of that season’s EFL Cup.
The 23 year-old midfielder went on to score his first senior goal two months later – coincidentally against his new club – as Boro lost 3-1 at Bournemouth in the Fourth Round of the same competition.
He then spent the second half of that season on loan at MK Dons before he went on to establish himself in Boro’s first-team squad across last four seasons, during which he scored 18 goals in 155 appearances in total across his time on Teesside.
In recent weeks, Boro rejected reported offers from Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but a deal with the former has now been struck, with the Cherries set to pay an initial £10m transfer fee plus £2.5m in add-ons as Tavernier signed a five-year contract until June 2027.
Speaking about Tavernier’s move to Bournemouth, Cherries Chief Executive, Neill Blake commented: “We are very pleased to have brought Marcus in.
“He was one of the stand out performers in the Championship last season, and will be a good fit with our squad.
“He has a great pedigree, tremendous energy and is a versatile young player who can play a number of different positions.
“Marcus was attracting a great deal of interest and we are delighted he has decided to join us. Everyone at the club is looking forward to working with him.”
Tavernier could make his Cherries debut on Saturday 6 August as Bournemouth host Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium in an untelevised 3pm kick-off in the Premier League.
Middlesbrough issued the following statement on Tavernier’s departure in which they said: “Marcus departs with the best wishes of all at MFC.”
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