Brazilian striker Afonso Alves has won the arbitration case filed by AZ Alkmaar after he signed for Middlesbrough earlier this year.

AZ demanded 7.5 million euros from the 27-year-old, claiming he had already signed a contract with them when he agreed to join Boro from Heerenveen in January.

Following weeks of speculation about a move to AZ, Alves signed for Boro in a deal reportedly worth 16.1 million euros.

A judge on Wednesday ruled that there had been no breach of contract as the deal with AZ had not been signed by Alves' agent, Wagner Ribeiro, leaving the deal incomplete.

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