Leroy Lita completes Swansea switch from Middlesbrough

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Leroy Lita
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Striker Leroy Lita is a former England Under-21 international

Premier League newcomers Swansea City have completed the signing of striker Leroy Lita from Middlesbrough on a three-year deal for £1.75m.

The former England Under-21 forward has passed his medical and is expected to make his Swans debut in a friendly against Celtic on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old bolsters Swansea's strike-force following the summer arrival of Danny Graham from Watford, external.

Winger Wayne Routledge, external is also set to seal his Swansea move on Wednesday.

"Leroy is a proven goalscorer. It would be a fantastic deal for this club," said Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers.

"Our supporters would love him because he is a player that is loved by the supporters of every team he plays for.''

Lita was Boro's second top goal-scorer last season with 12 goals and Rodgers has also been keen on Lita's former Boro team-mate Marvin Emnes, who spent a spell on loan with the Swans last season.

Lita joined Middlesbrough on a three-year deal in August 2009 after being released by Reading and scored eight goals in his first season there.

His career began as a teenager with Bristol City, where he scored 31 goals in 85 league games, including 41 substitute appearances.

Reading paid a then club record £1m for the player in 2005 and he went on to score 32 goals in 100 Royals appearances.

His Reading tally included 11 goals in 22 starts to help the Royals win promotion to the Premier League in his first season.

While on loan at Norwich City during the 2008/09 season, Lita scored seven goals in 16 games, including a hat-trick against eventual champions Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but is a former England Under-21 cap.

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