A busy summer of transfer activity saw Boro secure no fewer than a dozen new senior signings, while also moving to secure extended contracts for four more figures in the first team dressing room.
The first business in the wake of last season was to bring in promising youngsters Daniel Nkrumah and Terrell Agyemang, from Leyton Orient and Manchester City respectively. Both players figured prominently in Boro’s pre-season calendar, and have since featured in our Under-21 side’s first matches of the campaign.
Our Academy teams were further bolstered by new deals for youngsters Jeremy Sivi, Henry Popple and Nathan Simpson, while Jack Robinson and Kamil Conteh departed for Carlisle United and Grimsby Town.
In late June, two more local lads were putting pen to paper on new terms with the club, Ajay Matthews signing his first pro deal, and Hayden Hackney rewarded for his breakout season by committing his future to the Boro with a deal that runs until 2027.
Pre-season plans were gathering pace, and it was Boro jetting off to Portugal for a week-long training camp that kick-started a flurry of arrivals.
The first was forward Alex Gilbert, signing for the Boro at the end of a bright spell with Brentford’s B team, while promising Dutch defender Rav van den Berg joined from PEC Zwolle the following day.
Aussie duo Sammy Silvera and Tom Glover were each confirmed on the Friday morning, before Morgan Rogers made it five summer arrivals when he landed from Manchester City that evening.
It was soon six when goalkeeper Seny Dieng secured his switch from fellow Sky Bet Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
With Dieng and Glover added to the goalkeeper ranks, two more stoppers departed on loan, Zach Hemming linking up with Scottish side St Mirren, and Sol Brynn joining Leyton Orient after agreeing to new terms with Boro.
Marc Bola was Boro’s next departure, the left-back moving to Turkish outfit Samsunspor.
Mid-July saw three more new Boro contracts confirmed, with Matt Crooks penning for another year, Dael Fry for three years, and Josh Coburn for four years.
That was followed by further shuffles in the goalkeeping department, Liam Roberts leaving for Barnsley on loan, and ex-Wigan Athletic man Jamie Jones arriving as his replacement.
In early August, striker Matthew Hoppe returned home to California with San Jose Earthquakes, in a loan deal which runs until the end of the 2023 MLS season.
Boro’s own campaign was now underway, and two more were soon added to Michael Carrick’s ranks; left-back Lukas Engel from Silkeborg and striker Emmanuel Latte Lath from Atalanta.
We then bade farewell to Chuba Akpom, the forward joining Dutch giants Ajax on a five-year contract.
A few more youngsters were on the way on loan in pursuit of senior experience; Max Metcalfe to AFC Fylde, Nathan Fisher to Redcar Athletic and Jack Stott to York City.
And another Academy product, Sonny Finch, signed extended terms until 2026.
As the window entered its final week, the double signing of Nottingham Forest’s midfielder Lewis O’Brien and Leeds United forward Sam Greenwood, each on season-long loans, added further depth and quality to Carrick’s squad.
Deadline Day itself saw another addition to the Boro squad, left-sided player Alex Bangura arriving from Dutch club SC Cambuur in the final hours to make it twelve senior summer signings.
And before the window closed, there were two more departures, with Martin Payero ending his time at Boro and joining Serie A side Udinese, and youngster Jeremy Sivi loaned to Harrogate Town until January.