Middlesbrough have broken their transfer record by signing Heerenveen striker Afonso Alves for an ‘undisclosed’ fee.

The Brazilian international has put pen to paper on a four-and-half year contract at the Riverside.

‘Boro manager Gareth Southgate told his club’s official website: “I’m delighted to have completed the deal. As usual at this time of the year, it was a late night but Afonso brings us something different in that he is a goalscorer who does much of his best work inside the box.

“His goalscoring record in Holland in particular but in Sweden too has been prolific. We hope he will reproduce that sort of form for us in the Premier League.”

Zenit St Petersburg defender Erik Hagen has joined Wigan Athletic on loan until the summer.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce told his club’s official website: “Erik is a player who lives to defend, he is an experienced international and is no stranger to the big occasion. He is aggressive, fantastic in the air and can read the game very well. He is a leader on the field and he will add tremendous competition at the back for us. I wouldn’t have brought him here unless I thought he had the attributes to be a hit in the Premier League.”

Bolton Wanderers have loaned in Southampton striker Grzegorz Rasiak until the end of the season.

Bolton manager Gary Megson told his club’s official website: “Grzegorz is a big, powerful centre-forward who knows where the back of the net is. He will bring more firepower to the squad and allows us extra attacking options.”

Ex-Liverpool and Ajax forward Jari Litmanen has joined Fulham until the end of the season.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson told his club’s official website: “I don’t think there is a need to explain the qualities that Jari possesses as a player or the obvious reasons for wanting to bring him to Fulham, and I am delighted that he has agreed to join us for the remaining months of the season. Although he is not entirely match fit at the moment, I have no doubt that he will have a big part to play over the coming months and that we shall benefit as a team from his skill and experience.”

The London club have also snapped up defender Toni Kallio from Young Boys.