Grant Hall is Neil Warnock's first Middlesbrough signing

The 28-year-old joins as a free agent after his Queens Park Rangers contract ended in June.

It was only confirmed on Tuesday that Warnock would be staying on as manager after leading Boro to safety with four wins from eight end-of-season matches after replacing Jonathan Woodgate.

He is anxious to give the team a stronger spine, and sees former QPR captain Hall as an important part of that.

“I’ve known Grant for a few years now,” said Warnock, whose time at Loftus Road did not coincide with Hall's five-year stint.

“Everyone knows I’m looking at the spine of the team, and he’s the right fit for what we need.

“Grant is a smashing lad and I’m sure the fans will really take to him.”

A number of clubs had shown an interest in Hall, who made 30 appearances for QPR before lockdown, scoring in his last two.

He started his career in non-league football with Lewes before spells at Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur without making a league start. Instead he played most of his football on loan at Swindon Town, Birmingham City and Blackpool, making his Blues debut at the Riverside on the first day of the 2014-15 season.

It was in West London where he found a home, and after recovering from 16 months of persistent knee problems which restricted him to five appearances in 2017-18 Hall became captain, a job he kept until failing to agree a new contract in June.

He made 130 appearances in all competitions for the Rs, scoring six goals – five of them this season.

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