At the end of the 2023–24 season, Middlesbrough dismissed two senior players. This summer, keeper Liam Roberts left the team through the Boro exit door, following the previously announced Paddy McNair. Although Jamie Jones’ contract has also expired, he will continue to receive treatment for his injury at the club and may be able to stay on.
With his contract set to expire this summer, McNair had previously announced that he would be departing the team after six years. Since Michael Carrick took over as manager at the Riverside, the adaptable defender had fallen down the hierarchy, and everyone felt that it was time to let the Northern Irishman go this summer.
Roberts, meanwhile, departs the club from Northampton Town after two years of membership. After playing his first season as Zack Steffen’s backup, he decided to go on loan to play football, and Boro eventually approved a loan move to Barnsley, even though it wasn’t planned for him to depart last summer despite the arrivals of Seny Dieng and Tom Glover. He found it to be a wise move, and this summer the Tykes will probably look to sign him to a long-term contract.
Last summer, Boro had to search elsewhere for a third-choice keeper after Roberts decided to depart, and they discovered one in Jones, who had just signed a free transfer from Wigan Athletic. Despite not having played in a competitive game for the team yet, the 35-year-old has established himself as a valuable member of the coaching staff after leading the Latics to victory in the past. He may possibly agree to a new contract.
With their contracts with the Boro officially ending on June 30, all three of the senior players are now free to talk about joining other teams this summer.
Three loan players, Sam Greenwood, Lewis O’Brien, and Luke Thomas, also depart the club with them; Boro’s retained list thanks them for their contributions. Luke Ayling, the club’s fourth loanee, is in talks to return to Boro on a permanent basis after making an impression during his half-season loan stay at the Riverside. Ayling’s Leeds United contract ends this summer, making him a free agent.
In addition to the senior players, Boro’s retained list also revealed the departure of scholars JD Costello, George Grant, Amazing Kiasungua, Cameron Simpson, and academy players Ben Beals, Sam Collins, Joe Gibson, Fenton John, Max Metcalfe, Henry Popple, Jeremy Sivi, and Frankie Whelan.
With the confirmation of the retained list, Boro can now look forward to starting pre-season and the summer transfer window, which will kick off their season. The European Championships are scheduled to take place on June 14, so it may take some time before the window truly opens. Typically, the free agency market is the first to heat up during the summer.
In addition to adding Ayling to strengthen their right-back options, Boro is rumoured to be trying to add an attacking forward and central midfielder this summer to replace the loan players O’Brien and Greenwood. They desire a striker as well. Depending on the market and the players’ availability, other additions may be explored later in the window. Boro will also need to respond if significant bids are made for star players.
Following surgery, Riley McGree spent the entire season on the treatment table. It is unknown at this point if he will have recovered enough to begin preseason training with the rest of his teammates. But with just 12 months left on his present contract, Boro will probably make improving his contract a top priority this summer.
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