Middlesbrough Championship promotion odds: Predicted finish, transfers, best players, full squad
Middlesbrough will be hoping this is finally the campaign where they return to the Premier League after eight seasons in the Championship.
It has been so close yet so far for Middlesbrough in recent seasons, finishing just outside the play-offs in 2021/22 and 2023/24, while in 2022/23 they were knocked out in the play-off semi-finals by Coventry. This time around Michael Carrick will be looking to take the next step and take his side back to the top flight for the first time since 2016/17.
Last campaign they began the season with no wins in any of their opening seven games (D2 L5), so a good start will be essential in 2024/25.
Latest Middlesbrough odds to be promoted in the 2024/25 Championship
Middlesbrough’s summer transfer window business so far
Luke Ayling has made his loan deal from Leeds permanent after he left last season’s beaten play-off finalists on a free transfer. He will be joined at the Riverside by midfielder Aidan Morris and winger Delano Burgzorg, who have arrived from Columbus Crew and Mainz respectively.
Middlesbrough transfers |
|||
| Ins | Fee | Outs | Fee |
| Aidan Morris | Undisclosed | Sam Silvera | Loan |
| Delano Burgzorg | Undisclosed | Paddy McNair | Free |
| Luke Ayling | Free | Liam Roberts | Free |
| Jamie Jones | Free | ||
| Hayden Coulson | Undisclosed | ||
Who are Middlesbrough’s most important players?
Middlesbrough’s’ top Championship Golden Boot contender: Emmanuel Latte Lath
- Key stat: Emmanuel Latte Lath has scored in each of his last six Championship matches.
After losing 2022/23 Championship top goalscorer Chuba Akpom at the beginning of last season, Boro needed someone to step up and score the goals and Emmanuel Latte Lath has been that man. The 25-year-old found the back of the net 16 times in the Championship last term, at least twice as many as any of his teammates, scoring in each of final six matches of the campaign (8 in total).
If he scores on the opening day against Swansea, he will be just the third player to score in seven consecutive matches in the competition in the last 12 years after Aleksandar Mitrovic and Jordan Rhodes.
Middlesbrough’s primary playmaker: Luke Ayling
- Key stat: Luke Ayling averaged an assist every 206 minutes for Boro in the Championship last term.
Despite only joining the club on loan in the January window, Luke Ayling provided more assists than any other Middlesbrough player in the Championship in 2023/24 (8).
The full-back out performed his xA by 5.53 with his eight assists coming from just 27 chances created, so his numbers might not be sustainable, but with half a season at the Riverside under his belt he will be hoping to push on once more and improve his numbers once more.
Middlesbrough’s card magnets & top tacklers: Isaiah Jones
- Key stat: No current Middlesbrough player committed more fouls in the Championship than Isaiah Jones (41).
Only Jonny Howson (9) picked up more yellow cards in the Championship for Middlesbrough last season than Isaiah Jones (8), while no current Boro player committed more fouls (41). The midfielder has now been cautioned 17 times across the last two league campaigns and won more duels (167) than any of his teammates in 2023/24. Only Lukas Engel (68) made more tackles (64).
Middlesbrough’s rising star: Rav van den Berg
The 20-year-old Dutchman was one of the signings of the season in the Championship last season after joining the club from PEC Zwolle.
He soon made the centre-back position his own in his first full campaign and Michael Carrick was singing his praises at the end of the campaign.
“I don’t think you can be anything but hugely impressed with Rav” Said the Boro boss.
“His performances, when you consider that he’s coming here from Holland at such a young age . . . new experiences, new club, new country, new way of living, new type of football.
“Then you consider he’s played right-back for the first time in his life, he’s played left-back for the first time in his life, he’s played centre-back in a four and a three – he always handles himself so well and never really looks flustered. He looks composed.
“So there is so much to be impressed by. His ability we kind of knew from our scouting and we believed we could help him get better. He’s developed an awful lot, but also he has that character and that desire to want to do well. He’s so keen to improve. He handles everything in a way that is credit to him.
“From the start, he’s been fantastic. He’s been consistent, he’s played different positions, I’ve said many times I don’t think he’s had a spectacular jump over the season, I think he’s just been stable and level and gradual improvement. Credit to him for that, it’s not easy when you’re a younger player. The future is exciting for him, as long as he keeps doing the right things and keeps his feet on the ground and stays in the right place, he’s going in the right direction.”
Middlesbrough’s set-piece specialists:
- Penalties: Jonny Howson
- Free kicks: Riley McGree
- Corners: Daniel Barlaser
Middlesbrough’s tactical analysis & formation
Middlesbrough’s team stats from the 2023/24 Championship season (avg per game):
- Corners: 5.9
- Shots on target: 5.0
- Shots on target conceded: 4.0
- Offsides: 2.2
Michael Carrick has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation during his time at the Riverside, but isn’t afraid to match up against the opposition in big games.
Emmanuel Latte Lath will lead the line once again next season, with new signing Delano Burgzorg and Isaiah Jones expected to play either side of him. Boro have a host of players returning from injury so there will be a lot of competition in the middle of midfield with Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris and Dan Barlaser all hoping to take one of the starting spots. In defence, Matt Clarke is the first name on the teamsheet and will look to form another strong partnership with Rav van den Berg.
Luke Ayling and Alex Bangura should get the nod at full-back, but Lukas Engel and Anfernee Dijksteel offer solid competition. Senegalese keeper Seny Dieng will be Michael Carrick’s number one.
Middlesbrough full Championship 2024/25 squad
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | AGE |
| Seny Dieng | Goalkeeper | 29 |
| Tom Glover | Goalkeeper | 26 |
| Dael Fry | Defender | 26 |
| Rav van den Berg | Defender | 20 |
| Matt Clarke | Defender | 27 |
| Darragh Lenihan | Defender | 30 |
| Lukas Engel | Defender | 25 |
| Alex Bangura | Defender | 25 |
| Luke Ayling | Defender | 32 |
| Anfernee Dijksteel | Defender | 27 |
| Tommy Smith | Defender | 32 |
| Hayden Hackney | Midfielder | 22 |
| Dan Barlaser | Midfielder | 27 |
| Riley McGree | Midfielder | 25 |
| Aidan Morris | Midfielder | |
| Jonny Howson | Midfielder | 36 |
| Finn Azaz | Midfielder | 23 |
| Delano Burgzorg | Forward | 25 |
| Isaiah Jones | Forward | 25 |
| Emmanuel Latte Lath | Forward | 25 |
| Marcus Forss | Forward | 25 |
| Josh Coburn | Forward | 21 |
| Matthew Hoppe | Forward | 23 |
Middlesbrough FAQs
Where did Middlesbrough finish in the 2023/24 Championship season?
Middlesbrough finished 8th last season, just missing out on a play-off spot.
Who is the Middlesbrough manager?
Michael Carrick took over as Middlesbrough boss in October 2022 and is preparing for his second full season in charge of the club.
Who is the current Middlesbrough captain?
Jonny Howson is the Middlesbrough captain, with the 35-year-old extending his contract for another year.
What is Middlesbrough’s best Championship finish?
Middlesbrough won the Championship when it was known as Division 1 back in 1994/95, finishing the campaign with 82 points.
