Boateng set to complete switch from Middlesbrough to Hull

The former Holland international has agreed personal terms with Hull boss Phil Brown and is expected to be with the Tigers squad for their weekend friendly with Oostende.

Former Middlesbrough skipper Boateng is surplus to requirements at Boro after a bust-up with manager Gareth Southgate last season.

Changing clubs, not lanes: And George Boateng is unlikely to bump into Michael Schumacher when he signs for Hull

And the 32-year-old, who cost £5 million from Aston Villa six years ago, is another major signing for Brown.

The Hull manager said: 'We’ve agreed a deal with Middlesbrough, we’ve agreed personal terms with George and he’s been at Sheffield undergoing the rigorous medical that we put in place here.

'George is not a young one by any stretch of the imagination but with more than 10 years experience in the Premier League, that kind of experience is going to be invaluable at this place.

'I’m waiting to see him, hopefully he’s still got that smile on his face. He’s the right type of character that we want here and having spoken to Steve McClaren, he said had he been back in the Premier League as a manager he would have taken George Boateng any day of the week and that’ll do for me.

'Fingers crossed, in the next 24 hours hopefully we will have another international-quality player.

'No-one guarantees you first-team football. The only thing that can guarantee you that is playing well week in, week out - and that is what I fully expect from George, but he has to get past the players already in the team.'

Southgate is expected to step up his interest in Reading midfielder James Harper as he looks to complete his squad for the new season.