A former Middlesbrough star who manager Michael Carrick dubbed โgreatโ has now joined a Championship rival.
It has been a busy summer at the Riverside Stadium so far both on the incomings and outings front.
Middlesbrough have made four 2024 summer transfers so far; Luke Ayling, Delano Burgzorg, Aidan Morris, and Harley Hunt.
Michael Carrick has also allowed a number of players to leave Boro on permanent and temporary deals.
Hayden Colouson, who spent last season on loan at Blackpool, has now joined the League One outfit permanently.
Elsewhere, Zach Hemming and Sammy Silvera will spend 2024/25 on loan with Leyton Orient and Portsmouth.
Three senior players have left Middlesbrough on free transfers as well after their contracts expired last month.
Third-choice keeper Jamies Jones has joined Salford City and fellow shot-stopper Liam Roberts will now ply his trade with Millwall.
The latest released Middlesbrough star to find a new club this summer is Paddy McNair.
Paddy McNair joins San Diego FC
McNair joined Middlesbrough from bitter rivals Sunderland in July 2018.
He went on to feature 219 times for the Teessiders, scoring 14 goals and providing two assists.
After being released by the club, Carrick dubbed the ex-Middlesbrough star โgreatโ.
He said: โPaddy has been a great servant to the club and an important figure during my time here.
โWe wish him all the best for the future.โ
Now, after departing the North East outfit, San Diego FC have confirmed the capture of McNair on a three-year deal.
Due to the MLS season ending in October, San Diego have agreed to loan McNair to Boroโs Championship rival Westbromich Alibion for the remainder of 2024.
Should Middlesbrough have let Paddy McNair go
The 2023/24 Championship campaign saw McNair make just 21 appearances for Middlesbrough.
But while McNair was not a guaranteed starter under Carrick, Boro should have kept him around.
The 29-year-old is a versatile player who can operate at centre-back, right-back, and as a central midfielder.
Middlesbrough need to strengthen at centre-back this summer as shown by Jonny Howson being forced to play out of position versus Gateshead.
McNair would have filled that void if kept around, so Middlesbrough letting him go for free seems a strange decision.