Tottenham agreed a £6 million fee with Birmingham City for Mido on 20 July 2007.[102] Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said the move was close to collapsing, as the deal reportedly faltered over the wages and the length of contract Mido was demanding.[103] The deal eventually fell through over a clause that Mido insisted be in the contract.[104] In August 2007 Sunderland made a £6 million bid for him and held talks,[104] after which Birmingham confirmed they were trying to revive their deal to sign Mido.[105] Middlesbrough then revealed their interest in signing him, matching the £6 million fee of Birmingham and Sunderland and were given permission to speak to him.[106] They eventually signed Mido for a fee of £6 million on a four-year contract on 16 August 2007.[107] He scored on his debut for Middlesbrough against Fulham and on his home debut against Newcastle United.[108][109] During the Newcastle game, Mido was reportedly subject to Islamophobic abuse from some Newcastle supporters, which The Football Association (The FA) was to investigate.[110]