Rob Edwards will be excited as £6m Middlesbrough signing shines against Lionel Messi

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Middlesbrough will welcome Adilson Malanda into their squad in January, and the defender has been in stunning form.

Middlesbrough signed Malanda in the summer transfer window for a reported fee of £6m (plus add-ons) from MLS outfit Charlotte FC.

Boro beat several European sides to the centre-back’s signature, with the likes of Dutch champions PSV, Belgian giants Club Brugge, Portuguese mammoths Benfica as well as Middlesbrough’s Championship foes Norwich City.

The deal saw Malanda sign a five-and-a-half-year deal with Middlesbrough before being loaned back to Charlotte FC to finish the MLS season, which runs until mid-October.

Malanda’s Charlotte FC sit third in the MLS’ Eastern conference, and they have the Boro new boy to thank for their latest win, against a certain Argentinian attacker.

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Middlesbrough’s Adilson Malanda beats Inter Miami star Lionel Messi

Malanda now has 110 appearances for Charlotte FC to his name, and the Middlesbrough faithful will be desperate to see him in action in the second half of the Championship season.

Especially considering the defender has already proven himself against arguably the best footballer of all time, Lionel Messi.

On Sunday evening, Malanda and his in-form Charlotte FC teammates beat Messi’s Inter Miami 3-0 in the MLS clash.

In surprising fashion, Messi missed a penalty with the score at 0-0 after a failed Panenka attempt which was gathered by Charlotte shot-stopper Kristijan Kahlina.

An Idan Toklomati hat-trick saw Malanda’s Charlotte equal an MLS regular-season record by notching their ninth successive victory.

23-year-old Malanda was pivotal to Charlotte’s clean sheet, with the Frenchman enjoying a fine performance against the star-studded Inter Miami side both in and out of possession.

Boro boss Rob Edwards will be delighted to welcome the central defensive starlet to the Riverside permanently from January, and he has already told the Boro faithful what to expect from Malanda.

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What Rob Edwards said after Middlesbrough signed Adilson Malanda

After Middlesbrough beat several European giants to the defender’s signature this summer, Edwards was understandably excited about Malanda’s arrival.

Edwards told Middlesbrough’s media: “The recruitment team have worked hard for a long time on that, and they deserve a big pat on the back.

“Adilson is a big signing for the club. He’s a top player and we’re looking forward to having him from January. He will bring brilliant strength to an already strong area for us.”

After Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw against Preston North End, Edwards’ side still boast the joint-best defensive record in the Championship table, currently in terms of fewest goals conceded (3).

Adding Malanda, who has just shut out one of the world’s best, into the mix in January will only bolster Boro’s already strong Championship title prospects.