Boyd trained with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday, having signed a two-year deal with Boro after his previous contract with Rangers expired last month.
The Scotland international has been a man in demand, with Turkish side Kayserispor and Russian outfit CSKA Moscow both lodging formal offers for his services.
Premier League clubs Newcastle, Blackburn, Bolton and Birmingham were also credited with an interest in the striker, and Boyd admits he could have secured a move to the top-flight.
However, he would not have been guaranteed a starting spot at any of those clubs, and the prospect of leading the line at the Riverside was enough to persuade him to set his sights on the Championship.
There were other options abroad and in England, but for me the most important thing was to come and play football, said Boyd. There was no point in going anywhere that I might not be a first choice.
I've got a great chance to play here and a big challenge.
I felt the challenge here was a better one than playing at the bottom of the Premier League and struggling every week, probably playing one up front.
In Scotland, you're playing the same teams three or four times a season and that can get a bit boring after a period of time.
You can speak to people about what they think, but eventually you need to decide what you personally want to do. I had made up my mind I was coming to Middlesbrough once I got back from holiday.
Gordon Strachan has firsthand experience of Boyd's striking prowess, as the 26- year-old scored one of Rangers' two goals in 2007's crucial Old Firm clash in the final month of the season.
The Boro boss attempted to sign the striker in January, only to be told Rangers would not be selling him as they closed in on the SPL title.
He was more successful second time around, and has praised chairman Steve Gibson for continuing to support his pursuit of the player.
The chairman has done well (to seal the deal) and the club has done well to get Kris, said Strachan. We know all about Kris and what he can do.
Of course the fans are going to be excited. Kris is not a dribbler or a flamboyant player, but he is the type of footballer who can score lots of goals. We like what we see of him and we think he will fit in well here.
If you go behind in a match, it's good to know you have a player in your team like Kris who can score goals.
That breeds confidence in the crowd, his fellow players, everyone.
With Andy Halliday having signed from Livingston at the end of last season, Boyd became Boro's second summer signing when he put pen to paper on Monday afternoon.
He will not be the last with Boro officials poised to confirm Nicky Bailey's £1.4m arrival from Charlton shortly, while Strachan remains confident of signing Stephen McManus from Celtic following his successful loan spell.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo