Lee Tomlin narrowly missed out on a place in the Premier League with Middlesbrough last season, but has now been handed the chance to perform on the biggest stage.
The 26-year-old scored seven goals and assisted 10 more during an ever-present campaign with Boro last term, which ended in heartache as the Teesside club lost the playoff final to Norwich City. He has since been linked with a move to the top-flight, and this has now come to light after Bournemouth paid an undisclosed fee to make him their ninth signing of the summer window.
“Lee Tomlin is a player who will get fans off their seats,” Cherries chief executive Neill Blake told the official club website. “He is someone we have followed for some time. We believe he is ready to make the step up and look forward to seeing him play in the Premier League. Like the club, he has had to work hard to get to this point and is eager to make the most of this opportunity.”
Earlier in the day Eddie Howe’s side also confirmed the capture of Ivory Coast international Max Gradel from Saint Etienne. The 27-year-old is no stranger to Bournemouth having made 34 appearances and scored nine goals for them during a loan spell in 2007-08. At the time the South Coast club were a League One outfit, so the winger will find a bright new era on his return.
Howe has already made some impressive additions to the squad which won the Championship title last season, including a club record £8million deal for Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings. Goalkeepers Artur Boruc and Adam Federici have joined from Southampton and Reading respectively, whilst forward Josh King joins from Blackburn Rovers and defender Sylvain Distin from Everton.
There have also been a couple of loan deals, the most exciting of which is Ghanaian international Christian Atsu who will spend the season at Dean Court having struggled to make an impact for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. And Italy Under-20 international defender Filippo Costa arrives from Chievo, and will initially link up with the Cherries Under-21 squad.
