Manager Bryan Robson signed the 1.66-meter tall midfielder from Sao Paulo earlier this month for $7.53 million after days of negotiations with the Brazilian club.
Thousands of Middlesbrough fans and a 50-piece samba band are planning a welcome for Juninho on Tuesday at the English premier league club's new Riverside stadium.
Juninho is expected to make his debut for his new club against Manchester United on Oct. 28, once the paperwork connected with his move has been completed.
Middlesbrough, while awaiting his arrival, moved up to fourth place in the English premier division with a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
Craig Hignett, who cost little more than a tenth of the money that Robson needed to bring Juninho around the world, scored the winning goal from the penalty spot midway through the second half. Middlesbrough is unbeaten in its last eight games and has conceded the fewest goals in the premier division.
Sheffield Wednesday will rightly claim the goal never needed to be conceded. Steve Vickers backheaded Hignett's corner and there appeared to be little danger.
But defender Lee Briscoe, trying to establish himself in the side after the move of Romanian Dan Petrescu to Chelsea, threw up a hand and referee Gerald Ashby was well placed to award the penalty.
Hignett, who cost Middlesbrough ?500,000 ($787,000) when he was transferred from second division Crewe, blasted the ball confidently past goalkeeper Kevin Pressman and that proved enough to secure three points.
n
In Italian play, Marco Simone and George Weah struck two early goals to send league leaders AC Milan on their way to a 2-1 win over title-holders Juventus in the top-of-the-table clash in the Italian first division Sunday.
The result left Milan two points clear in the title race with 15 points from six matches, while Juventus dropped to fifth.
Despite having Roberto Baggio and Dejan Savicevic injured and Demetrio Albertini suspended, Milan overwhelmed Juventus with a display of aggressive football.
n
In local action, Spartak-Alania of Vladikavkaz clinched at least a tie for the top spot in the Russian Premier Division with a 4-0 home win over cellar-dwellers DinamoGazovik of Tyumen.
Second-placed Lokomotiv Moscow was upset 1-0 at home by Uralmash Yekaterinburg to fall six points back with two games to play. (Reuters, AP, MT)
(For other results, see Scorecard.)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.