Maidstone chairman Paul Bowden Brown says the club are thrilled at the news that teenage defender Chris Smalling is joining Premiership club Middlesbrough.

Smalling, 18, an England Schoolboy international has signed a two-year contract at the Riverside Stadium, and joins them when pre-season training starts in July.

Mr Bowden Brown said: "I am delighted for Chris, and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity.I am sure I speak for everyone connected with the club when I say how proud we are of him, and we wish him every success in the future."

Boro Academy manager Dave Parnaby added: "We have received very favourable reports about his perfromance with England and Maidstone. He is a very intelligent and level headed young man, who we feel has a lot of potential."