Tag: Middlesbrough

Boro coach Carrick hails ‘fantastic’ Morris after strong start

The USMNT midfielder is making quite the impression early in his time at Middlesbrough

Aidan Morris is making quite the impression early in his time at Middlesbrough.

The midfielder joined Boro from the Columbus Crew in June, with the Championship side shelling out a reported $4 million.

Morris has been thrown into the fire in his first foray into Europe, playing the full match in both of Boro’s opening games of the campaign.

The 22-year-old has responded well to the challenge, as he was named man of the match in a 1-0 league win over Swansea over the weekend, before turning in another strong display in Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Leeds in the Carabao Cup.

After the game against Leeds, head coach Michael Carrick spoke glowingly of Morris and fellow summer signing Delano Burgzorg.

Carrick said: “It (making early signings) certainly helps, and credit to everyone for that – the backroom staff, in terms of recruitment, and having good ideas, and having a plan and sticking to it.

“We’re all in it together. We’ve spoken about the value of getting the two lads in early, and it is the truth.

“We’ve seen the benefits of that, and we’re feeling those benefits. I thought the two boys in particular were fantastic tonight, in different ways, and you can see how well they’ve settled in.”

Next up for Boro is a trip to face Derby County in a Championship encounter on Saturday.

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USMNT midfielder Morris joins Middlesbrough from Columbus

The 22-year-old midfielder has made the jump to Europe

Middlesbrough has confirmed the signing of Aidan Morris on a transfer from the Columbus Crew.

The 22-year-old midfielder joins the Championship side in a reported $4 million move, and has signed a four-year contract.

Morris has become one of the highest-rated midfield prospects in MLS in recent years, having made over 100 appearances for the Crew and won two MLS Cups despite his young age.

A fixture with U.S. youth national teams, Morris made his senior USMNT debut in January 2023 and has earned five caps thus far.

“He suits our style of play, he’s strong, he likes to get on the ball, and he plays off both feet,” said Boro head coach Michael Carrick.

“He’s a good age, but he’s already had a taste of success and he has a good amount of experience. We’re excited to work with him.”

Morris was called into the most recent U.S. pre-Olympic training camp, and looks to be a solid bet to compete in the games in France next month.

“Watching Aidan’s growth as a player and person during his time at the Crew has been a true privilege, and we greatly appreciate his dedication to the club and our city,” said Crew general manager Issa Tall.

“Aidan has always been focused on learning and improving, and he’s an exceptional role model for our academy players. We are proud of what Aidan accomplished individually and with our club as he made a significant impact in the Crew’s history. He always aspired to play in Europe and earned the opportunity, and we look forward to him further displaying his form and character as he joins Middlesbrough.”

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Zack Steffen out 3-4 months after knee surgery

The goalkeeper will miss both of the USMNT’s summer tournaments

Zack Steffen has undergone knee surgery and is reportedly set to miss 3-4 months.

The U.S. national team goalkeeper just completed a season on loan at Middlesbrough, falling just short of promotion to the Premier League after his side fell to Coventry in the Championship playoff semifinal.

The 28-year-old revealed on Thursday that he had surgery on his knee, with The Washington Post reporting it was a scope to clean out meniscus damage and he’ll be out for at least three months.

Steffen posted on his private Twitter account: “In life there are times when you have to take a step backward in order to progress further, stronger and wiser.

“God has a plan different from our own. I’m grateful for all who have helped me these past couple of weeks. I’ll be back soon.”

Steffen’s future unclear

The procedure means Steffen will miss out for the USMNT this summer as it aims to defend its titles in both the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup.

After surprisingly being left off the USMNT roster for the World Cup, Steffen returned to the national team in March for its two Nations League matches.

Steffen returns to Manchester City with his future up in the air. In March he said that he has no intention of staying at the Premier League champions, where he had previously served as the backup to Ederson.

Due to his high wages, Boro appears unlikely to make a permanent move for the American.

Steffen’s latest injury won’t help his cause as he searches for a new club, as he looks set to miss at least the first couple weeks of the regular season.

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Zack Steffen says he’s not going back to Man City

The USMNT goalkeeper has a contract at the Etihad through 2025

Zack Steffen’s time at Manchester City appears to be over.

Or at least that’s what the U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper says is his hope, as he continues to start for Middlesbrough on a season-long loan from the Premier League champions.

After surprisingly being left off the USMNT roster for the World Cup, Steffen is back with the national team for its two CONCACAF Nations League matches this month.

Steffen’s form with Boro, currently third in the Championship table as it chases promotion to the top flight, has helped propel him back to the USMNT after one of the biggest disappointments of his career.

And speaking to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 27-year-old has said he isn’t prepared to return to City and be a backup again.

“I don’t think I’ll go back,” Steffen said. “No, I want to be playing. Although I had a great time at City and I love those guys, and obviously an amazing club, I don’t really have any plans to go back.”

How Steffen would engineer an exit from City is yet to be determined. His loan at Boro goes through the end of the season, at which point he is scheduled to return to City. His contract at the Etihad runs through 2025.

Steffen originally joined City from the Columbus Crew in 2019, before going out on loan to Fortuna Düsseldorf for the 2019-20 season. After starting for the then-Bundesliga club, Steffen returned to City where he served as Ederson’s backup for two seasons.

Stefen has earned 29 caps for the USMNT after making his debut in 2018.

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USMNT attacker Matthew Hoppe signs with Middlesbrough

Hoppe is heading to the Championship after a tough season with Mallorca

Matthew Hoppe has completed a seemingly needed move, signing with Middlesbrough after an ill-fated spell with Mallorca.

With spots on the U.S. men’s national team roster at a premium, Hoppe signed a four-year contract with Middlesbrough, joining Zack Steffen’s side in the English Championship.

Pro Soccer Wire reported in late July that Hoppe had serious interest from clubs in the Premier League, Championship, and MLS. Atlanta United, Nashville SC, Orlando City and the San Jose Earthquakes were all pursuing Hoppe at times, but in the end a move to the Championship was the most likely outcome.

Hoppe joined Mallorca last summer, but only made seven total appearances in 2021-22. Even with a coaching change in March, Hoppe never really broke through, which is never a good situation going into a World Cup. Hoppe, 21, was involved during the USMNT’s successful run through the Octagonal, but didn’t appear for Gregg Berhalter in any of the last eight qualifiers.

What does this mean for Hoppe’s USMNT chances?

A good run through the early months of the Championship season could vault Hoppe right back into the picture. While Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, and Brenden Aaronson appear to be Berhalter’s preferred options as wide forwards, there’s still plenty of competition to make the final roster to head to Qatar (particularly if Aaronson is thought of as an option in the midfield as well).

That said, Hoppe will have plenty of work to do. Paul Arriola has had a career season after moving to FC Dallas, and Aaronson started the season out wide for Leeds. A healthy Gio Reyna, whether he’s viewed as a winger or central player, leaves one fewer roster spot for Hoppe. Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris and Konrad de la Fuente are still in the mix as well.

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Zack Steffen moves to Middlesbrough on loan and yes, it sounds like he’s the starter

The 27-year-old has moved down to the Championship as he looks to secure regular playing time

Zack Steffen has made his move in the race to be the U.S. national team starter at the World Cup, joining Middlesbrough on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Steffen joined City in 2019 from the Columbus Crew in a move worth a reported £6 million. After a loan to Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany, Steffen served as the backup to Ederson for the past two seasons.

With regular playing time unlikely and a World Cup upcoming, Steffen has moved to the Championship side as he aims to secure a starting role for the first time since the 2019–20 season.

Will Steffen start at Boro?

It appears the Steffen has the inside track on Boro’s starting goalkeeper role. The club’s starter last season, Joe Lumley, has been sent on loan to Reading. Boro brought in Liam Roberts this offseason, but he appears unlikely to start right away after he played for fourth-tier Northampton Town last season.

TeessideLive, the regional website that covers the club referred to Steffen as “Boro’s new number one” while the club’s manager Chris Wilder also sounded like he’s ready to hand Steffen his starting role.

“I think it’s a big coup for us and so I’m delighted we’ve brought Zack in,” Wilder in Boro’s announcement of the move.

“We knew we had to improve the goalkeeping department. We brought in Liam Roberts and now we’re adding Zack who has just signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Man City. Man City don’t hand out four-and-a-half-year contracts if they don’t think anything of them.

“Everyone knows his situation, he needed to play because of the World Cup. He had an agreement with Man City, but he could have easily stayed there and sat comfortably as their number two. He wanted to go out and he’s agreed to come here.”

Steffen is in a heated battle with Matt Turner for the USMNT starting role. Turner has just completed a move to Arsenal, where he figures to start the season as a backup to Aaron Ramsdale.

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