Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough winger Jeremy Sarmiento said he is delighted to finally feel at home after making his move to the Riverside Stadium a permanent one.

The 24-year-old had been on five different loan spells since 2023 from his previous club Brighton & Hove Albion, including spending the second half of last season with Boro.

But after completing his switch in June, the Ecuadorian will hope to play an entire season at his parent club for the first time since 2022-23 when he did so with the Seagulls.

"I'm very happy. I'm delighted, my family also, to feel at home somewhere," Sarmiento told BBC Radio Tees.

"I've been on quite a few loan spells, so it feels good to finally settle in somewhere where you feel loved.

"It's great and the fans have been loving to me as well, which I appreciate a lot."

Boro narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League in the 2025-26 campaign after losing 1-0 to Hull City in the Championship play-off final but Sarmiento said they are ready to challenge again.

"We all wanted it, I think the fans wanted it as well. We worked so hard to push for that promotion," he said.

"Only god knows why we didn't. But we have that belief, we're working so hard to get there again and this time hopefully do it."

Sarmiento has won promotion from the second tier twice before, with Ipswich Town in 2023-24 and Burnley in 2024-25, and hopes that experience will help Boro succeed in the forthcoming season.

"Really it could have been third [last season], but hey, it is what it is. At the end of the day, it's the mentality," he added.

"I can help some players out, the young guys who are also coming in. But I'm sure there's a lot of players with a lot of confidence that can contribute."

Preston North End have agreed a £2m deal for Dutch Middlesbrough forward Delano Burgzorg, 27.

Striker Kaly Sene is also poised to depart Boro for Swiss side Young Boys in a deal worth £1m for the Senegalese 25-year-old. (Northern Echo, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek is close to completing a permanent move to Middlesbrough.

Vitek scooped all the Bristol City Player of the Year awards last season but returned to United for the start of pre-season.

However, the 22-year-old made it clear when he spoke to reporters in Norway last month he expected to spend the season away from Old Trafford.

"I'm ready to go somewhere again and hopefully be number one," he said.

Middlesbrough are one of a number of clubs keen to sign the Czech.

It is understood if the deal does go through, Manchester United would look to have a hefty sell-on clause and a buy-back option included.

Middlesbrough's new striker Will Lankshear said he has learned more in a week under head coach Kim Hellberg than he has in his entire football career previously.

The 21-year-old signed from Tottenham two weeks ago after spending last season on loan at Oxford United, where he scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 44 Championship games.

Lankshear played his first game for what he described as an "amazing, brilliant and massive" club in a 3-3 pre-season friendly draw with Espanyol on Saturday.

Hellberg praised Lankshear after the match and said: "Will as a nine is absolutely brilliant, he's mobile, he can do almost anything."

And Lankshear has now returned the compliment to Hellberg.

"It's been a great week so far. I've learnt as much as I have my whole life in one week under Kim [Hellberg]," Lankshear told BBC Radio Tees.

"It's really, really good. I'm really excited. We play some really nice football and that's all on the manager."

Boro have also brought in Kyle Joseph from Hull City to strengthen their attack and Lankshear said he is embracing the challenge of competing for the number nine shirt.

"Competition is everything. You need a big squad if you want to achieve the things that we want to achieve," he added.

"Kyle Joseph is a great forward. He can play across the front line. We can play together as well. So I'm really excited to work with him.

"And if it is one of us, then I'll be supporting. If not, I want to be giving my absolute all and scoring goals myself. I'm sure it'll work together.

"I'm going to come and give it my absolute all in every single game and I'm going to try and score like I always do and see where it takes me. I'm confident enough in my ability that I will score goals."

Explore more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg was full of praise for new signings Will Lankshear and Kyle Joseph after the side's pre-season 3-3 draw with Espanyol.

The two forwards were brought in this summer in an effort to improve Boro's finishing after they were wasteful in front of goal last season.

"Will as a nine is absolutely brilliant, he's mobile, he can do almost anything," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees. "Then I think Kyle has that pace.

"I think everyone saw last season that we struggled scoring goals. There was no team that created more clear chances than us, we all know that and we need to add on our quality.

"I'm looking forward to keep working with both Kyle and Will. They are showing brilliant qualities and they both are great human beings that want to improve."

Listen to the full interview below or on BBC Sounds here

Explore more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds

Middlesbrough are hoping to secure the signing of winger Max Arfsten before Friday's Carabao Cup tie with Wrexham. The 25-year-old is expected to arrive on Teesside this week to complete his move from MLS club Columbus Crew.(Teesside Live), external

There is more of Monday's EFL gossip here.

BBC Radio Tees' Paul Addison and Mark Drury are joined by Middlesbrough academy ambassador Neil Maddison to discuss Boro's summer and the future of the club.

Listen to the full analysis below or on BBC Sounds here

Explore more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Shutterstock

Middlesbrough have agreed a new one-year contract with goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.

The 38-year-old, capped twice by Scotland, will remain at the Riverside until next summer.

McLaughlin joined Boro from Swansea last September, but he is yet to play a minute for the first team.

The former Rangers goalkeeper instead served as a back-up to regular first-choice Sol Brynn.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough are interested in signing Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek this summer after the 22-year-old Czech spent last season on loan at Bristol City. (TeessideLive), external

Bolton Wanderers, Millwall, Wrexham and Middlesbrough are all interested in taking Ipswich Town's new Dutch goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen, 22, on loan. (Alan Nixon - subscription required), external

For more EFL transfer rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with your club's latest news.

Hartlepool United have signed goalkeeper Nathan Fisher on a free transfer.

The 21-year-old, who was released by Middlesbrough at the end of last season, has signed a one-year contract at Victoria Park with the option of a further year.

It comes a day after Pools signed fellow goalkeeper Max Merrick on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

Image source, Shutterstock

Harrogate Town have signed Middlesbrough defender Archie Baptiste for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.

The 20-year-old joined Boro last June after coming through Tottenham's academy and made one Championship appearance.

He ended the season on loan with Rochdale but did not feature for them.

"He's eager to get that opportunity to play men's football and both parties feel it's a good fit, so hopefully he can progress and do well for himself," head of player recruitment Lloyd Kerry told the club website., external

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough are finalising a deal to sign USA international midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, 25, from MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps for a fee in the region of £1.5m. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Burnley have made a loan-to-buy offer to sign former Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath from MLS side Atlanta United. The 27-year-old Ivorian left Boro for £22.5m in February 2025 after scoring 27 goals in 59 Championship games. (Alan Nixon - subscription required), external

Blackburn Rovers face stiff competition from a string of Championship clubs to sign Sunderland midfielder Alan Browne, who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough. However, Boro are not expected to explore another deal for the 31-year-old. (Lancashire Telegraph), external

Want to read more transfer rumours? Check out Friday's full gossip column here.

Middlesbrough are considering a move for Tottenham Hotspur's English defender Ashley Phillips, 21, who spent last season on loan at Stoke City. (TeessideLive), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough should have plenty of "optimism" for the potential of new signing Will Lankshear, says BBC Radio Oxford's Jerome Sale.

The 21-year-old striker joined Boro from Tottenham on Tuesday for a potentially club-record fee after catching the eye during his loan spell at Oxford United last season.

In fact, he left such a good impression at the Kassam that some believe he could be in the mix to don the number nine shirt for England.

"I think that's a longish shot but I think there is a high ceiling for him," Sale said. "For plenty of reasons, not least his talent but also his work ethic is insane.

"Sometimes you can look at his sheer physical presence and feel he might be the guy to go and ping the ball to if you're looking for an equaliser at the last minute - but he's not that player.

"He's actually more of a Harry Kane type player who wants to drop and get involved even though he's got the physical size. He's not super quick but he's got the speed of thought, again like Kane, that makes up for that.

"I just think he'll be a really fun watch."

Listen to Jerome's full thoughts below or on BBC Sounds here

Explore more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds

Middlesbrough are leading the race for 21-year-old Tottenham and England youth international forward Will Lankshear, who is set to cost more than £10m. (TeamTalk, external)

Boro and Norwich are set to go head-to-head for 26-year-old defensive midfielder Balthazar Pierret, who plays for French Ligue 2 club Red Star (Sky Sports - in French, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Morgan Rogers will have a medical with Chelsea on Monday after returning from international duty with England at the 2026 World Cup.

Rogers, who was previously on the books of Manchester City, joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 in a deal worth £8m, rising to £15m.

Due to a clause giving Middlesbrough 20% of any profit made by Villa for selling Rogers in the future, the Championship club will earn at least £20.4m from his transfer to Chelsea, depending on how many add-ons have been triggered at Villa Park.

Boro believe it is also an English record for the largest transfer sell-on fee.

Rogers scored 21 goals in 85 league appearances for Unai Emery's men and was part of the team that won the Europa League last season.

He has made 22 senior England appearances, scoring once, and featured in seven games at this summer's World Cup.

Rogers is the second Villa midfielder to depart this week following Youri Tielemans' £35m move to Manchester United, but they have brought in Switzerland international Johan Manzambi in a deal worth more than £50m from Freiburg and lined up Wolves' Joao Gomes for £38m.

• Read more on the Rogers deal

Image source, SNS

Camilo Duran scored as Celtic drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough in Saturday's pre-season friendly.

David Strelec put Boro in front with a turn and finish.

Forward Duran, Celtic's only new summer signing so far, struck high into the net to bring the hosts level before half-time.

As well as Duran, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has agreed a new deal after a short-term contract last term, started.

International midfielders Arne Engels and Reo Hatate, who have been linked with moves, came on in the second half for Martin O'Neill's side.