Middlesbrough Secures Fourth American Player

Middlesbrough Football Club is poised to finalize the signing of 22-year-old American midfielder Rokas Pukstas from Croatian club Hajduk Split. This acquisition will increase the number of United States players in the Middlesbrough squad to four. Pukstas, hailing from Stillwater, Oklahoma, previously played at the youth level for Sporting Kansas City before his move to Split in 2020.

He made his senior debut in 2022 and has represented his country at under-15 and under-21 levels, though he has not yet earned a full senior cap. Sources indicate that the transfer fee agreed upon with Hajduk Split is approximately £4 million. Pukstas's availability for Middlesbrough's upcoming matches is uncertain, as his transfer is expected to be completed after Hajduk Split's UEFA Conference League second-leg match.

It is unlikely that Pukstas will be ready to play in Middlesbrough's next game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The team's subsequent fixtures include an away match against Burnley the following Wednesday, followed by a trip to QPR three days later. Head coach Kim Hellberg is preparing for Pukstas's integration into the squad.