Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough are finalising a four-year deal for English midfielder Myles Peart-Harris, 23, following the expiry of his contract at Oxford United. (Teesside Gazette), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Boro legend Craig Hignett believes the move to Everton is a "great" one for midfielder Hayden Hackney - but it will also do plenty for Middlesbrough's transfer ambitions this season too.

Everton have paid £16m plus potential add-ons for the Boro youth product and Middlesbrough may also have residuals this season from a possible move for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who joined the Premier League club from the Riverside in February 2024.

While former forward Hignett says Hackney was arguably Middlesbrough's best player last season, he thinks the money gained from his transfer will help the side strengthen their weaknesses in attack.

"If Boro would have got promoted, that [the fee for Hackney] might have been a different story, but I'd take that if I were Boro," Hignett told BBC Radio Tees.

"Hopefully Morgan Rogers will go and we might get a few quid more. I know we got some money for Djed Spence as well so the kitty is looking pretty good.

"Last season was such an exciting season but ultimately it was a bit of a let down and I think quite early on, we all knew where Boro were struggling. So hopefully, with the money they've got, they can remedy that this year and have a good go."

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We asked you for your thoughts on Hayden Hackney's move to Everton and it seems to be a departure on good terms.

Here is a selection of what you had to say:

Paul: £16 million for the Championship player of the season? I appreciate he would have only had one year left [on his deal] but still! I'm assuming there will also be some beneficial future clauses for us.

Moving forward we can hopefully replace him with someone creative and plenty of knowhow but at a similar sort of age. We need to get a big, strong, tall striker in too. Too many pointless crosses last season with no one there to get on the end of them.

I'm hoping Hellberg gets the players he wants (hopefully some proper pace on the flanks) and we go again!

Nate: Goes with no hard feelings from me. Have loved having him here but he absolutely deserves to be playing in the PL.

Replace probably isn't the right word, but the funds should help the whole squad with the right buys. Quietly looking forward to the season (depending on the transfer window).

Dan: Gutted he's gone, really enjoyed watching him last season, especially his goals against QPR and Norwich.

Big case of the 'what ifs' but if we had added a striker in January and Hayden had not got injured, he would be in the Prem with Boro. Was [always] going to leave after failing to get promotion, wish him all the best at Everton - they are getting a very good player.

Need to spend the money for him sensibly but not sure there is an obvious like-for-like player we could get, especially with his connection to the Boro.

Martin: It was inevitable after missing out on promotion. He is passionate about Boro and maybe stayed with us a season too long, out of loyalty. Can't do anything other than say thanks and wish him good luck with his new club.

Hayden Hackney is a Middlesbrough man no more.

The 24-year-old midfielder progressed through Boro's youth ranks to become a key player for the side but has now departed for the Premier League with Everton.

• Were you expecting him to go or did you think Boro could keep hold of him after coming so close to promotion last season?

• Will Boro struggle without their midfield maestro?

• Who would you like to see replace him?

Let us know your thoughts on Hackney's departure here and come back to this page later to read a selection of your responses.

Middlesbrough face losing 28-year-old English centre-back Dael Fry, who is out of contract this summer and drawing interest from West Ham and Blackburn. (Teesside Live), external

Leicester City's English midfielder Oliver Skipp, 25, is attracting attention from Middlesbrough. (Daily Mail), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Tuesday's full gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville saw his shot saved during a dramatic penalty shootout against Morocco to knock the Netherlands out of the World Cup on Tuesday.

Summerville had provided the assist for Cody Gakpo's opener in the 72nd minute, but Morocco equalised in the 91st to force extra time.

Both sides had missed two previous penalties before the 24-year-old stood up to take the fifth for the Dutch side; however Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou denied him, and Ismael Saibari then sealed the win for their opponents.

Burnley's Lyle Foster will also be heading home after South Africa succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Canada.

However, the win for the North American side does mean three English Football League players have made it through to the round of 16 in the World Cup.

Southampton striker Cyle Larin and Ali Ahmed of Norwich City both featured for Canada in the group stage but were unused substitutes for Sunday's knock-out match alongside Middlesbrough's Alfie Jones.

Canada next faces Morocco in Texas on Saturday at 18:00 BST.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough are in talks with Hull City over a £5m deal for striker Kyle Joseph.

The Tigers beat Boro in the Championship play-off final, which 24-year-old Joseph missed because of an ankle injury.

He scored eight goals - having joined from Blackpool in January last year - as Hull finished sixth, before suffering the injury in their play-off semi-final victory over Millwall.

The Tigers are being forced to sell to ensure they comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Scottish Premiership club Rangers are also reportedly ready to pay £6m for goalkeeper Igor Pandur which, along with Joseph, would mean the newly promoted Premier League side clear the £6m deficit they needed to erase.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland could move to Hull as part of a deal for Pandur, who arrived from Fortuna Sittard for £1.5m in 2024 and has made 92 appearances for the club.

Image source, Getty Images

We have reached the knock-out rounds of the World Cup but there are still plenty of players from the English Football League representing their country.

Here is where you can watch them in the round of 32:

Sunday, 28 June

• Lyle Foster, Burnley - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Ali Ahmed, Norwich City - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Cyle Larin, Southampton - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

Tuesday, 30 June

• Crysencio Summerville, West Ham - Netherlands v Morocco (02:00 BST)

• Sondre Langas, Derby County - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• Egil Selvik, Watford - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• David Moller Wolfe, Wolves - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• Hjalmar Ekdal, Burnley - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

• Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Derby County - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

• Viktor Johansson, Stoke City - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

Wednesday, 1 July

• Edson Alvarez, West Ham - Mexico v Ecuador (02:00 BST)

• Raul Jimenez, Wolves - Mexico v Ecuador (02:00 BST)

• Axel Tuanzebe, Burnley - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• Edo Kayembe, Watford - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• Aaron Wan-Bissaka, West Ham - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• El-Hadji Malick Diouf, West Ham - Belgium v Senegal (21:00 BST)

Friday, 3 July

• Jose Sa, Wolves - Portugal v Croatia (00:00 BST)

• Zeki Amdouni, Burnley - Switzerland v Algeria (04:00 BST)

• Harry Souttar, Leicester City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Mohamed Toure, Norwich City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Cameron Burgess, Swansea City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Nestory Irankunda, Watford - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

Saturday, 4 July

• Abdul Fatawu, Leicester City, Colombia v Ghana (02:30 BST)

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United midfielder Tahith Chong's history-making World Cup has come to an end after Curacao were knocked out of the competition following a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast on Thursday.

The 26-year-old played all 90 minutes of the game against the African nation but the defeat left Curacao bottom of Group E with one point - their first in a World Cup - in three games.

Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen was an unused substitute.

This year's event marked Curacao's debut in the competition.

The EFL fixture list is out, and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.

Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

• 15 August 2026 - Lincoln City (H)

• 22 August 2026 - Blackburn Rovers (A)

• 28 November 2026 - Southampton (A)

• 26 December 2026 - Sheffield United (A)

• 1 January 2027 - Preston North End (H)

• 13 March 2027 - Southampton (H)

• 1 May 2027 - Swansea City (A)

See Middlesbrough's full fixture list here.

The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.

Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.

The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.

So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United's Tahith Chong helped earn Curacao their first point in a World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on Sunday.

The midfielder played 76 minutes during the stalemate, while Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen was on the bench for the Caribbean side.

Curacao will next play Ivory Coast on Thursday (21:00 BST) for a chance to progress through the group stages with a first tournament win.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday's Yan Valery, Ben Slimane of Norwich City and Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri all started for Tunisia as they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat by Japan which saw them knocked out of the tournament.

Tunisia's last group match will be against the Netherlands on Friday at 00:00 BST.

Middlesbrough have rejected multiple bids for star English midfielder Hayden Hackney from Everton, while several other Premier League clubs are interested in the 23-year-old. (TEAMTalk), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Everton remain in pole position for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

The Toffees have had two approaches rejected by Boro, who value the 23-year-old at around £20m.

Crystal Palace are also interested but Hackney currently favours a move to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Nothing has developed since Everton's second approach while the club are also considering other midfield options.

Hackney has a year left on his contract at the Riverside after rejecting a £20m move to Ipswich last summer.

The England Under-21 international, part of the squad which won Euro 2025 last summer, was happy to stay at Boro and did not want to move to another Championship side.

Nottingham Forest also had an approach turned down late in the winter window in February.

Academy graduate Hackney has made 154 appearances for Boro, scoring 16 goals.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United midfielder Tahith Chong and Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen will be team-mates for the World Cup.

The pair will represent Curacao - the smallest nation to ever participate in the competition.

Both Chong and Hansen played the second half of Curacao's 4-0 friendly win over Aruba on Sunday, with all four goals coming while they were on the pitch.

Chong had given his country the lead against Scotland at Hampden Park last weekend before they went on to lose 4-1.

Rotherham defender Ar'Jany Martha, who was relegated to League Two in the 2025-26 season with the Millers, is also in the squad managed by ex-Netherlands, Rangers and Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat.

Elsewhere for Boro, Alfie Jones is in the Canada squad.

Here is a reminder who Curacao and Canada will face in the group stage, so you can keep an eye out once the World Cup begins on 11 June:

• Canada, Group B: Bosnia, Qatar and Switzerland

• Curacao, Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador