West Ham have collected £5 million fee for Darren Randolph who was a free signing from Birmingham when joining the club.

The Republic of Ireland keeper will join Middlesbrough for the new campaign following the arrival Joe Hart and the fee and his wages now go back into the pot for possible further investment in this window.

The club can feel justifiably pleased at the fee they have received for the keeper who now kick starts his career in the Championship following Boro’s relegation last season.

Slaven Bilic in wishing him well said: “I would like to thank Darren for his service to the club over the past two years. He has been a fantastic professional and, as a player and a person, has the respect of everyone at West Ham.

“Darren is a very good goalkeeper, and I didn’t want him to leave. However, I could not guarantee him regular first team football and, with the possibility of playing at the World Cup for the Republic of Ireland next summer, he wanted to take up the offer from Middlesbrough.

“We didn’t think it was right to deny him this opportunity to establish himself as a No1 playing every week in the Championship, but I am sorry to see him go and I wish him all the very best in the future.”