Cameroon defender Andre Bikey has joined Middlesbrough on a one-year contract.
The 27-year-old free agent, who has played in the Barclays Premier League with Reading and Burnley, is Boro boss Tony Mowbray's 12th summer signing.
Bikey said: "I'm excited about the chance of helping Middlesbrough get back into the Premier League.
"The club just missed out on the play-offs last season and I can sense the ambition to go one better this year."
Mowbray added: "Andre is a player I have liked for a long time. He is a different type of centre-half to what we have got.
"He is a very powerful defender who has real physicality and he also has good technical ability.
"Andre hasn't played a great deal of football in the last year, but when he gets up to speed, our supporters will see the qualities he possesses."
