Plenty of quality talent has emerged from the Middlesbrough academy over the years.
While they have never been the biggest club in England, Boro have seen plenty of top names emerge from their academy over the years.
Some of Middlesbrough’s best academy graduates include former England international Stewart Downing and now Premier League star, Marcus Tavernier.
In the current first-team squad, meanwhile, a number of regular starters begin their career in the Teessiders’ youth ranks.
Hayden Hackney has been backed to achieve big things after his excellent start to the 2024/25 season with the Redcar-born midfielder, of course, one of the best academy graduates in recent years.
And while he has been sidelined by a long-term injury so far this season, local lad Dael Fry has been key to Middlesbrough’s success in recent years.
Now, Boro’s academy setup has been ranked among the best in England and is even better than some Premier League clubs.
Middlesbrough academy compared to Newcastle United and more Premier League clubs
Training Ground Guru have recently released a list of the top academies across all of the EFL.
The list ranks English Academies from Categories One to Three based on the number of graduates who made at least one league appearance in the 2023/24 campaign.
Chelsea top the list for another year in a row while Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur make up the rest of the top five.
As for Middlesbrough, they are ranked 15th on the top-20 list ahead of Premier League clubs such as Fulham (16th), Newcastle United (18th) and Brighton and Hove Albion (20th).
Boro’s Championship rivals Sheffield United (10th), Leeds United (11th) and West Bromwich Albion (14th) are ranked above Michael Carrick’s side.
Who will be the next big star to come out of the Middlesbrough academy
With Hackney firmly established as a key player for Middlesbrough, attention should now turn to who will be the next youngster to step up for the first team.
George McCormick was praised after breaking into the senior side in pre-season and was given his first start when Middlesbrough beat Leeds United 3-0 in the Carabao Cup in August.
The centre-back has a bright future ahead of him and could offer a solution to Boro’s left-back problems going forward.
Elsewhere, Law McCabe was handed his senior debut in 2023/24 during a 4-0 win over Preston North End.
McCabe was handed a new contract in July and could be a long-term replacement for Jonny Howson in the centre of the park.