Between 1st February 2020 and 1st February 2021, Championship club's spent a hefty £41m on agent fees - although this was £8m less than the previous year, due to the global Covid pandemic seeing a number of top tier clubs tightening their belts amidst the ongoing financial uncertainty.
Here's a look (via the Price of Football) at how Middlesbrough' s agent and intermediary fee spend ranks alongside all of their Championship rivals:
5. 5th - Brentford
Estimated agent fee spend: £2.6m. Most expensive season signing: Ivan Toney from Peterborough United (£5m). Photo: Clive Rose
6. 6th - Nottingham Forest
Estimated agent fee spend: £2.2m. Most expensive season signing: Harry Arter from Bournemouth (£5m). Photo: Alex Pantling
7. 7th - Swansea City
Estimated agent fee spend: £2.2m. Most expensive season signing: Jamal Lowe from Wigan Athletic. (£700k) Photo: Alex Burstow
8. 8th - Watford
Estimated agent fee spend: £2.1m. Most expensive season signing: Dan Gosling from Bournemouth. (undisclosed fee) Photo: Ross Kinnaird