FORMER Swindon Town midfielder Massimo Luongo has signed for Championship side Middlesbrough on a short-term deal until January.

The 29-year-old made over 100 appearances for Town between 2013 and 2015, scoring 14 times.

The Australian initially arrived at SN1 in March 2013 on loan from Tottenham Hotspur alongside popular wing-back Nathan Byrne and fellow midfielder Dean Parrett, before making the deal permanent in August of the same year after an impressive start to the season.

Despite Australia calling him up for their 2014 World-Cup campaign in Brazil, the Robins’ midfield ace did not feature in the tournament, as the Socceroos exited the competition in the group stages after losing all of their games.

Luongo left Town mid-season in 2014/15 to play in the Asia Cup, where he scored in the final against South Korea, before being announced as the tournament’s ‘Most Valuable Player’.

The midfielder then returned and was part of the side that defeated Sheffield United 7-6 after two legs in the League One play-off semi-final, before playing 90 minutes in the 4-0 defeat to Preston North End at Wembley.

He then left to join Queens Park Rangers in a double deal with Ben Gladwin for an undisclosed fee and spent four years at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, establishing himself as a regular with the Championship outfit.

Luongo departed for Sheffield Wednesday in 2019, who were relegated to League One in 2021. He then became a free agent in June this year after failing to agree terms on a new contract.

He will now link-up with Chris Wilder’s side who are currently 17th in the Championship after eight games, and come in off the back of two wins in their last three fixtures.