Super Eagles star, Kelechi Iheanacho has set his sights on leading Middlesbrough to the Premier League at the end of the 2024-25 English Championship season.
Iheanacho joined the club from Sevilla on the last day of the January transfer window on a six month deal until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old struggled to impress in Spain after joining Sevilla as a free agent in the summer.
He has now returned to England, where he spent seven years with Leicester City, and he is delighted to be back, while targeting promotion for Middlesbrough.
Iheanacho said: “I’m really excited to be here and have been welcomed by the players and everybody; so, I’m happy. Everything (about the transfer from Sevilla to Middlesbrough) moved quickly.
“Middlesbrough is a cultured team obviously even from the few times I’ve spent here. The manager (Michael Carrick) is a nice guy, good guy. I have spoken with him, and it’s really a very good team. Good to be here and I can’t wait to get started.
“I have discussed some private stuff with the manager but obviously, on how we are going to move forward. And go up to the Premier League.”
Iheanacho described his short stint in Spain as a good experience despite failing to score in nine La Liga games for Sevilla.
He said: “It was good to experience another environment and culture. It’s a big club and the atmosphere at the club is great.
“I love my experience there and obviously, Seville is a great place. I will always love to go back there.
“But I’m here now and let’s see what we can achieve, it feels like home coming back to England and I’m buzzing to get started. Hopefully.”
Iheanacho featured for Leicester City in the English Championship last season, and he is banking on the experience to propel Boro to the Premier League.
He said: “To be fair, it was a good experience playing in the Championship with Leicester City and we won (the Championship), it was a great experience. I played against Middlesbrough as well, though I didn’t score against them . So I have played in the Championship and I know what it’s like. It will really be good to get started.
“I’m ready to go and can’t wait to get started . This is a great club and the Championship is a great championship.
“I’m not a great fan of (setting) targets but obviously it would be collective as a team to get to the Premier League. But it’s one step at a time, we have a good team and we can work together to achieve that goal.”
Iheanacho is expected to make his Middlesbrough debut against Watford on Saturday at the Riverside Stadium.
Carrick’s team currently occupy the seventh position with 44 points from 30 matches, one point behind the play off places.
