Middlesbrough flop who said he ‘hated’ his time at club has just completed a major transfer

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The 2025 summer transfer window will re-open for Middlesbrough on June 16, and work is underway to improve the squad, while one ex-player has already completed a move.

Despite not currently having a manager following the sacking of Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough are making transfer plans.

Boro want a new right-back signed, while several more positions in the squad are thought to be being looked at by Kieran Scott.

Steve Gibson plans to invest in Middlesbrough once again this summer, but some players could leave.

Rav van den Berg has commented on transfer interest this week, and Hayden Hackney could be sold this summer.

Meanwhile, a former Boro player has now completed a transfer to a Premier League club.

Marcus Bettinelli joins Manchester City from Chelsea

The summer transfer window closed for the first time on the evening of June 10.

Prior to that, Manchester City confirmed the signing of Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea.

The former Middlesbrough player signed on a one-year deal, telling the club’s media: “It’s an honour to sign for City. I have admired from afar what this Club have achieved since Pep Guardiola arrived and now I am excited to be a part of building on that success.

“I can’t wait to work with Guardiola, Xabi Mancisidor and the excellent goalkeepers already here and see their methods up close.

“Hopefully I can contribute in training, the dressing room and on the pitch as we look to win more silverware over the next year.”

Marcus Bettinelli ‘hated’ Middlesbrough spell

Before joining Chelsea, the 33-year-old was on the books of Fulham, who loaned the goalkeeper to Middlesbrough in 2020.

Bettinelli spent the entire 2020/21 season at the Riverside Stadium, keeping 13 clean sheets and conceding 47 goals in 42 matches.

Speaking back in 2024 on the Yours Mine Away podcast, the shot-stopper opened up on his time at Boro, explaining that he ‘hated’ it and admitting he could have done better.

He said: “I played nearly every game so from that point of view it was good, but I have to be honest, I hated it. Do you know when you’re just having one of those seasons… there were goals going in and you know you can do better.

“I’d be the first to admit, I didn’t enjoy playing up there because I wasn’t playing well. I enjoyed living up there, and the missus did too. I lived right on the golf course, which was amazing. But I didn’t enjoy my time at Boro for that reason, and there were probably a few factors to that. It was a tough period, particularly then going back to Fulham and finding out I wasn’t wanted.”

Middlesbrough ended that season down in 10th place, their joint-second lowest league position since returning to the Premier League.