PLAYER PROFILE

Jonathan Woodgate

Position: Defence

Height: 6'0

Weight: 12st 9lbs

Date of Birth: 1980-01-22 Middlesbrough, England

Jonathan Woodgate

Jonathan Woodgate completed his shock move from Newcastle United to Real Madrid in August 2004.

The 24-year-old defender penned a four-year contract with Madrid with the option for a fifth season, after the Magpies chose to accept a £13.4million offer for the England international.

United boss Sir Bobby Robson had not been keen to sell one of his key players, but Woodgate wanted to join up with his England team-mates David Beckham and Michael Owen in Spain.

United chairman Freddy Shepherd told the club's official website: "We did not want Jonathan to leave Newcastle United, but you have to look at it from both sides.

"Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world - that's a fact.

"Which player wouldn't want to sign for Real Madrid if they come in and show an interest in them.

"Jonathan has said that Real Madrid would have been the only club he'd have left Newcastle for, he certainly wouldn't have joined another Premiership club."

Woodgate's persistent injury problems are also believed to have played a part in United's decision to sell, with the defender having been restricted to just 28 Premiership appearances since his £9million move from Leeds United in January 2003.

These problems continued throughout his time in Madrid and he finally moved back to England in August 2006, joining Middlesbrough on a season-long loan.

He soon impressed when back in the Premiership, and in February 2007 won his place back in the England squad.

Two months later it was announced that Middlesbrough had completed his signing from Madrid for £7m.

He continued to impress with Boro despite a few injury problems, and in January 2008 he was the subject of a bid from former club Newcastle, but rejected it to move to Tottenham Hotspur instead.