Middlesbrough have been much better at signing players since Kieran Scott joined the club from Norwich City.
Middlesbrough fans spent years watching their club recruit poorly and miss out on numerous transfer targets.
However, over the last several years, Boro have turned a corner in their recruitment.
The North East outfit have begun making smart, long-term additions who fit the manager’s system.
A key figure in this shift in policy is Kieran Scott, who made the move to the Riverside Stadium in September 2021 from Norwich City.
Scott is Middlesbrough’s Head of Football and has formed a great relationship with Michael Carrick over the last couple of years.
Now, Boro News have taken a look at every single transfer the club have made since Scott’s arrival and rated them out of 10 based on how well they did at Middlesbrough and the fees involved in their purchase and sale.
2022 winter transfer window
Riley McGree 8/10: McGree has been a key figure at Middlesbrough since his transfer from Charlotte FC.
The midfielder was instrumental in Boro finishing fourth in 2022/23 and has recently signed a new four-year deal with the club.
Caolan Boyd-Munce 1/10: Boyd-Munce made just four senior appearances for Boro and left the club on a free transfer in 2023.
Aaron Connolly 3/10: Conolly was a useful squad option during his brief loan stint but the striker scored just two goals in 21 appearances.
Folarin Balogun 5/10: Balogun showed patches of his true potential while on loan at the Riverside. He scored three and assisted three in 21 games.
The former Arsenal striker is now plying his trade for AS Monaco and is valued at €30m (around £25.2m) by Transfermarkt.
2022 summer and 2023 winter transfer windows
Marcus Forss 7/10: Forss joined on a permanent deal from Brentford and continues to prove himself as a versatile forward option with an eye for goal.
Matthew Hoppe 1/10: Hoppe has made just six senior appearances for the Teessiders and is expected to leave the club this summer.
Matt Clarke 8/10: Clarke’s debut season was hampered by injury but he is now a key figure in the Boro backline, forming an excellent partnership with Rav van den Berg.
Dan Barlaser 5/10: Barlaser has been a useful squad option and did not cost Middlesbrough too much.
Darragh Lenihan 6/10: Leninhan, who signed on a free, missed most of 2023/24 through injury but was a decent rotation option the campaign prior.
Tommy Smith: 6.5/10: Smith also joined Middlesbrough for free and was the starting right-back when they reached the play-offs in 2022/23.
Liam Roberts 3/10: Roberts played just five games for the Reds before leaving on a free in 2024. However, Boro did not lose any money on him as he was brought in for nothing.
Alex Mowatt 5/10: Mowatt had a decent 2022/23 on loan with the club, playing 31 and scoring two. He was not a standout talent but filled a hole in midfield.
Zack Steffen 6.5/10: Steffen had some questionable moments during his season-long loan spell but was Middlesbrough’s starting keeper as they finished fourth in the Championship.
Rodrigo Muniz 4/10: Muniz was an ok backup option during his loan stint from Fulham but the striker scored just two in 18 games, being overshadowed by Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer.
Ryan Giles 9/10: Giles was crucial to Carrick’s men reaching the play-offs in 2022/23, providing 11 assists from left-back.
The only downside of the deal is Middlesbrough were unable to convert it into a permanent transfer.
Aaron Rasmey 6.5/10: Ramsey scored five and assisted one in 11 games during the second half of 2022/23 while on loan from Aston Villa.
Cameron Archer 8.5/10: Another Villa loanee, Archer formed a great partnership with Akpom in the second half of 2022/23, scoring 11 and assisting six in 23 games.
Again though, it is a shame Middlesbrough could not turn his loan into a permanent switch.
2023 summer and 2024 winter transfer windows
Emmanuel Latte Lath 9/10: Latte Lath had a slightly slow start to life at Middlesbrough but has scored 11 in his last 12 league games, proving himself a great replacement for Akpom.
Fin Azaz 7/10: Aza only joined at the beginning of 2024 and is yet to show his true quality on Teesside but he has impressed on a few occasions so far.
Seny Dieng 7/10: Dieng has firmly cemented himself as Boro’s number one and was solid in the second half of 2023/24.
Lukas Engel 6/10: Engel took some time to adjust to English football but he is growing into his role and should have a bright future in the North East.
Morgan Rodgers 8/10: Rodgers scored seven and assisted nine in 33 games for Boro before being sold to Aston Villa in January 2024 for a quick profit of around £6.9m.
Alex Bangura 5/10: Bangura’s debut season at Middlesbrough was derailed by injury but he should be a useful rotation option in 2024/25.
Sammy Silvera 5.5/10: Silvera performed better than most expected after moving from Australia last summer. He has now joined Portsmouth on loan and could be a good player for Boro in the future.
Tom Glover 5/10: Glover was signed for free and performed well as backup to Dieng last term.
Jamies Jones 3/10: Jones also joined for free. He was used as Carrick’s third-choice option and has now left Boro after his contract expired.
Alex Gilbert 4/10: Gilbert is still lacking the experience required to start for Middlesbrough on a regular basis but he was a free transfer and could improve in the future.
Rav van den Berg 10/10: Van den Berg has been immense since his transfer from the Netherlands. The 20-year-old won the Middlesbrough Player of the Year award for 2023/24 and is already being earmarked to play Champions League football in the future.
Luke Thomas 4/10: Thomas joined Boro on loan from Leicester City, making 12 appearances. The left-back was an ok rotation option but his spell at the Riverside was nothing to write home about.
Lewis O’Brien 5/10: Middlesbrough signed O’Brien on loan and big things were expected of the Nottingham Forest man.
However, he never really lived up to the hype and Boro have decided against pursuing a permanent deal.
Luke Ayling (loan) 9/10: Ayling was brought in to add some much-needed depth at right-back and far exceeded expectations in the second half of 2023/24, assisting eight in 19 outings.
2024 summer transfer window
Luke Ayling 9/10: Ayling has re-joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer this summer and if he comes anywhere close to repeating his form from 2022/23, he will be a great signing.
Delano Burgzorg 7/10: Middlesbrough were lacking quality depth on the left wing but Burgzorg can fill that void and provide Carrick with another option through the middle.
Aidan Morris 8/10: There is always some risk involved in signing players who have never competed in England before but Boro spent nearly 18 months scouting Morris and he has all the qualities to be a key figure in Middlesbrough’s midfield.