According to The Hartlepool Mail, Middlesbrough have been ordered to pay a seven figure sum of €1 million after a FIFA hearing, regarding the signing of former-striker Kike Garcia.
Middlesbrough signed Kike Garcia for €2.5 million in 2014 from Spanish second division side Real Murcia, adding a clause into his contract that meant Murcia would be paid an additional €1 million if the Teessiders were promoted.
But after struggling to nail down a first-team place after the arrival of Jordan Rhodes, David Nugent and Cristhian Stuani that season, Kike was sold to La Liga outfit Eibar in February 2016, just after the January window had closed.
The paperwork had not been completed on time, and was officially on the books at Eibar, but unable to play until the following season.
At the end of the season, Middlesbrough were promoted to the Premier League, finishing second behind Burnley. But with Murcia demanding their additional payout of €1 million, Middlesbrough argued the player was not theirs after his sale in February.
Having taken the case to FIFA, the organisation ruled in favour of the Spanish side, resulting in Boro having to pay out the sum previously agreed in Kike’s contract within the next 30 days.
Signed in 2014, Kike went on to play 53 times for Middlesbrough, scoring 15 times, including important goals in the Championship Play-Off semi-final win against Brentford, and against Manchester City in the FA Cup win in 2015 most notably.
Since arriving at Eibar, the striker boasts a similar record, scoring 15 in 59 games, including the third in their surprising 3-0 win over Real Madrid at the weekend.
