Middlesbrough new boy delighted by move as talks open over Premier League loan deal

United States international Sebastian Berhalter has admitted he has already fallen in love with Middlesbrough after he became Kim Hellberg’s latest signing of the summer transfer window.

Speculation over a possible move for the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder ramped up over the last week and the deal was officially confirmed on Tuesday when Berhalter penned a four-year deal at the Riverside Stadium. The move has reunited the midfielder with former Columbus Crew and current United States team-mate Aidan Morris and he is relishing the opportunity to reunite with his childhood friend on Teesside.

He told the club website: “I’ve been watching the club closely over the last two years because of Aidan, and I kind of fell in love with the club, especially over the last year with the way they play and the way they fight. This is where I want to be. I want to keep getting better as a player and person, and this is a great place to do it.”

Berhalter will arrive at Middlesbrough on the back of helping the United States reach the last 16 of the World Cup finals before a defeat against Belgium ended their progress. The Boro new boy revealed his experience at the tournament has made him ‘even more hungry’ as he looks to make an impact for club and country.

“The World Cup was an incredible experience,” he explained. “It didn’t end the way we wanted to, but to see the American support that was there was really special and I’m really glad to have been a part of it. It’s growing in the US, and to see that much support and that many people supporting, it was a dream. It’s given me even more hunger now and this is an amazing place for me to be.”

Boro ‘open talks’ over deal for former goalkeeper

Middlesbrough are reportedly keen to secure a deal for Everton goalkeeper Mark Travers just over a year after he spent an initial spell at the Riverside Stadium. The six-times capped Republic of Ireland international joined Boro on loan from Bournemouth in January 2025 and went on to make 17 Championship appearances before returning to the Cherries. Travers joined Everton in a £4m deal during the following summer and made just two appearances for the Toffees after he was handed starts in Carabao Cup ties against Mansfield Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, having largely played back-up to former Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford, Travers is said to be ‘keen’ to leave the Toffees this summer in search of more regular game-time.

Football Insider have claimed Boro have ‘remained’ big admirers of the keeper and are now described as ‘closing in’ on a loan deal as they look to boost their goalkeeping ranks ahead of the Championship season. The report also suggests Everton are ‘happy to facilitate’ Travers’ move to secure regular game-time and state Boro’s Championship rivals Wrexham also held an interest in the stopper earlier this summer.

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