Brighton's Aaron Connolly heads abroad for his latest loan spell after flopping at Middlesbrough

Aaron Connolly has joined Italian Serie B side Venezia on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion. The Irish striker has made the move abroad for the upcoming season after failing to impress during his loan spell at Middlesbrough in the second half of last season.

Connolly managed just two heavily-deflected goals during his five-month stay on Teesside as he failed to impress, with Boro's play-off hopes ending in disappointment. Having returned to Brighton at the end of his loan, the 22-year-old has instead moved to Italy this summer where he will spend the season with Venezia.

In a strange intertwining of stories, Connolly is expected to be joining Venezia as a replacement for Thomas Henry - the French striker who was earlier this week heavily linked with Middlesbrough. Sky Sports Italia claimed Boro had made a big offer for Henry, but his preference appeared to be staying in Italy and he looks set to join Hellas Verona.

Connolly, meanwhile, has the latest attempt to try and resurrect a stuttering career which started so promising as he netted a brace in his first Premier League start against Tottenham. Faltering performance on the pitch as well as misdemeanours and unflattering headlines off the pitch have seen him fall down the pecking order at Brighton.

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