The clubs had earlier confirmed they had reached agreement for the 28-year-old who joined Boro from Real Madrid in August 2006, initially on loan with the move made permanent in April 2007.

Woodgate has made 19 league appearances for the Teessiders this season.

The details of the deal have yet to be announced but Woodgate is likely to cost Juande Ramos' side in the region of £7million.

Newcastle had also made enquiries about the player regarding a return to St James' Park but Magpies boss Kevin Keegan last week admitted his chances of signing Woodgate had faded.

Boro manager Gareth Southgate, who has the likes of Emanuel Pogatetz, David Wheater and Robert Huth available as cover at centre-half, explained that he agreed to sell Woodgate because his head had been turned by the chance of a transfer.

Southgate told www.mfc.co.uk: "You're looking for everyone at your club to want to be here and be part of it.

"We wanted to give Jonathan the opportunity to speak to other clubs because when clubs call you about a player it usually means the player knows about it anyway.

"We were then asking a question a Jonathan - do you want to be here and be part of what we want to do or do you want to head off?

"It seems he wanted to head off."

However, Southgate believes there is enough quality in the Boro squad to cope with the loss of an international defender.

He added: "We have some outstanding players in that area, internationals in Huth, Pogatetz and Under-21 internationals like David Wheater and Chris Riggott.

"There are also people like Matthew Bates, who's coming back from injury and young Seb Hines who is coming through the ranks and we think a lot of."

* Stewart Downing's agent insists the England international has no intention of signing a new contract at BORO.

FULHAM manager Roy Hodgson has revealed the club are close to signing Norway striker Erik Nevland.

Aston Villa central defender Gary Cahill is wanted by a trio of Barclays Premier League clubs with BIRMINGHAM and SUNDERLAND joining BOLTON in the race for the player.

READING have completed the signing of Mali international Jimmy Kebe for an undisclosed fee from Lens.

Rangers defender Alan Hutton has returned to Glasgow after a flying visit to London which came amid reports he is close to joining TOTTENHAM.

MANCHESTER CITY manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is determined to sign another striker before the close of the transfer window despite the emergence of teenage star Daniel Sturridge.

BORO are set to clinch the signing of Heerenveen striker Afonso Alves in the next 24 hours, according to chief executive Keith Lamb.

Lyon striker Milan Baros has completed his six-month loan move to PORTSMOUTH and looks set to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday after it was confirmed David Nugent must have a hernia operation.

Ben Hutchinson is determined to be a big hit for CELTIC after agreeing to move to the Scottish giants until 2011.

GRETNA have signed Hull midfielder Ben Wilkinson on loan until the end of the season.

LYON have confirmed they are close to agreeing a deal with Nice that will see midfielder Ederson move to the Stade Gerland at the end of the season.

MARSEILLE have completed the signing of Elliot Grandin from fellow Ligue 1 side Caen.

AJAX have signed defender Samuel Kuffour on a free transfer from Roma. They have also swooped to sign FC Groningen's Swedish midfielder Rasmus Lindgren.

FC Utrecht assistant coach John van Loen has accused Eredivisie rivals AZ ALKMAAR of making an illegal approach for defender Tim Cornelisse.

HEERENVEEN coach Gertjan Verbeek believes midfielder Michael Bradley will not leave the club in the transfer window.

ESPANYOL have reached an agreement with Real Zaragoza and Stuttgart to bring forward Ewerthon to the club on loan for the rest of the season.

Diego Maradona Jr claims he has been contacted about the prospect of joining a club in LA LIGA.

BIRMINGHAM manager Alex McLeish is to hold talks with midfielder Mehdi Nafti regarding his future when he returns from African Nations Cup duty.

BARNSLEY have completed the permanent signing of Derby striker Jon Macken for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

COVENTRY have completed the signing of highly-rated left-back Dan Fox from WALSALL for an undisclosed fee.

Coventry City striker Dele Adebola has emerged as a transfer target for BRISTOL CITY, admits manager Gary Johnson - who has allowed Jennison Myrie-Williams to stay at TRANMERE on loan for the rest of the season.

PLYMOUTH's in-demand midfielder David Norris will not play at IPSWICH on tonight. Last week, Ipswich boss Jim Magilton revealed he had stepped up his chase for Norris by making a second bid, believed to be £1.75million, while Argyle have rejected a transfer request from the player.

HULL winger Stuart Elliott has rejected a move to League Two high-fliers DARLINGTON.

COLCHESTER midfielder Kemal Izzet has signed a new contract at Layer Road.

GILLINGHAM manager Mark Stimson has made another raid on former club Stevenage by signing Barry Fuller and Stuart Lewis.

SOUTHEND striker Gary Hooper has penned a new 18-month deal at Roots Hall and been loaned out to HEREFORD, while CARLISLE striker Kevin Gall has joined League Two high-fliers DARLINGTON on a month's loan.

BRENTFORD manager Andy Scott has extended the loan deal of Reading goalkeeper Ben Hamer until the end of the season, while MANSFIELD have signed versatile HULL midfielder Will Atkinson on a month's loan with a view to extending the deal until the end of the campaign.