Best-ever signings
that Bamford signing was undoubtedly Boro’s best. He was brilliant that season.
The form of Stuani since his departure has confirmed what many fans felt when he was at the club – that Boro never got the best out of him.
Still, though, the Uruguayan had a history-making impact and never let Boro down.
He more than paid back his modest transfer fee of £3.5m. Money well spent.
He’s magic. He arrived on a free. He left a club legend.
A true professional. A fine footballer. A leader. Leadbitter was brilliant at Boro
“I’m pretty excited,” said Leadbitter in true understated fashion when he signed.
“I just want to play well for Middlesbrough and get the club in the Premier League.”
He did exactly that and so much more.
Dimi Konstantopoulous signed for Boro on a short-term deal as a deputy who was unlikely to get much game-time.
He left the club this summer having played more than 100 games and having etched his name firmly in the record books.
He also made that catch. You know the one.
Albert Adomah’s time at Boro wasn’t without its complications, but the likeable winger was one of the best widemen in the league as he scored, created and smiled his way through three seasons at the club.
He shone under Mogga in the 2013/14 season and was crucial under Karanka in the play-off and promotion campaigns. A million quid was a snip.
Bear with us on this one.
OK, there wasn’t the longevity with Traore.
Indeed, we only saw the best of him for a few months. But boy it was fun watching him for those few months.
And without him and the ‘give it to Adama’ approach, you’d have likely had to watch another half a season like the full season endured last term.
There’s also the profit Boro made on him to take into account.
We started here by talking about the signings Boro made in 2017.
We didn’t mention one of them. Lewis Wing.
Wing has turned out to be quite the farewell gift from Ron Bone before the top scout’s retirement.
Bone and Boro have benefited from thinking outside the box, though nobody inside the club will have quite imagined the impact Wing would go on to make.