Vancouver challenge for Robson

Barry Robson has confirmed he will leave Middlesbrough in the summer to join Major League football side the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Scotland midfielder, 33, has penned a pre-contract agreement and will move to Canada in July, bringing an end to a two-and-a-half-year spell at the Riverside having signed from Celtic in January 2010.

Robson's Middlesbrough contract was due to expire at the end of this season and he has now set his sights on going out on a high by helping the north-east club clinch promotion to the top flight.

"I've enjoyed my time with Middlesbrough enormously and the move to England has been good for me and for my career," the former Celtic and Dundee United player told Middlesbrough's official website.

"My immediate priority is to help Boro win promotion to the Premier League, where the club and their supporters deserve to be."

He added: "I'd like to wish (manager) Tony Mowbray, the club and the fans, who have welcomed me so warmly since I came here, the very best for the future.

"I'm very excited to be joining Whitecaps and to continue my career in Major League football."