Championship side Middlesbrough have signed Jonathan Burn from local rivals Sunderland.
The defender, who had been with the Black Cats since the age of 13, was in the second year of his scholarship at the Stadium of Light.
However, having been given permission to undergo a trial with Middlesbrough, Burn has now agreed terms over a move to the Riverside on a contract until the summer of 2014.
Burn had a loan spell with Darlington earlier this season.