Middlesbrough, who narrowly missed out on promotion from the Championship last season, are starting to make moves in the transfer market.
Boro lost to Hull City at Wembley following the Spygate controversy, but Kim Helberg will aim to right the wrongs of last season.
To do that, Helberg needs to build a team capable of winning promotion and has been tasked with bringing in a replacement for left-back Matt Targett, who was a key player last season and played 42 games in the Championship.
Columbus Crew star Max Erfsten, who played one game for the United States at the World Cup, has been floated as a target, and there are encouraging signs that a deal may be possible.
Middlesbrough confident of signing Max Alfsten
TEAMtalk reports that Middlesbrough are confident of signing Alfsten in the coming weeks and negotiations are progressing well.
The target has attracted interest from West Ham United and Hull City, with the defender currently a free agent, with Columbus Crewe a key target alongside AEK Athens left-back James Penrith.
Football Fancast Verdict | |
|---|---|
reliability | Targett’s impending departure means signing a new left-back will be important, with Middlesbrough reportedly interested in Alfsten since last year. |
finances | It is unclear what kind of money an MLS side could demand for a full-back, but Boro knocked back an offer of £2.25 million last summer, so this is a reference figure. |
insight | The 25-year-old has collected 21 caps for the USMNT, establishing himself as an international player while also impressing at club level. Despite reports that Boro are targeting him as a left-back, the American star was primarily used as a left-winger for the Columbus Crew, where he scored four goals and provided five assists in 15 MLS games during the 2026 season. |
impact | As mentioned above, the California-born ace has been targeted as a direct replacement for Targett, and has even played at left back, so that could be a possibility. Furthermore, Helberg used wing-backs last season, so Alfsten will play a little further forward. |
Max Alfsten could sign exciting deal with Boro
The MLS star has emerged as one of Columbus Crew’s most important players in recent years, scoring 20 goals and providing 20 assists in 112 games, earning him the chance to test himself in England.
Journalist Joseph Lowery also praised his versatility, saying: “I’ve been thinking about Max Arcsten ever since Ben wrote about this in Monday’s Mega MLS column. Are there two-footed, elite wing-backs who can play on either flank? Yes, that’s a cheat code in salary cap leagues.”
The Boro target also loves driving into opposition defenses, averaging 2.7 successful dribbles per 90 in the 2026 MLS season, 0.9 more than any other member of the Columbus Crew.
So from an attacking point of view, Alfsten could be a very exciting signing for Middlesbrough.
