# 2021–22 Middlesbrough F.C. season

The 2021–22 season is Middlesbrough's 146th year in their history and fifth consecutive season in the Championship. Along with the league, the club will also compete in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

## Statistics

    As of 19 September 2021
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Middlesbrough.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Joe Lumley | 9 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | NED | Anfernee Dijksteel | 8 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Grant Hall | 7 | 0 | 7+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Dael Fry | 8 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Marcus Tavernier | 6 | 1 | 5+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | CUB | Onel Hernández* | 4 | 1 | 4+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | UGA | Uche Ikpeazu | 8 | 2 | 5+2 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ARG | Martín Payero | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SVN | Andraž Šporar* | 4 | 1 | 3+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 13 | FW | ENG | Toyosi Olusanya | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ENG | Lee Peltier | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Jonny Howson | 7 | 1 | 6+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | NIR | Paddy McNair | 6 | 0 | 6+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Duncan Watmore | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | CIV | Sol Bamba | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | CMR | James Léa Siliki* | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Connor Malley | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Matt Crooks | 8 | 2 | 8+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Marc Bola | 5 | 1 | 4+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Jeremy Sivi | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Isaiah Jones | 9 | 0 | 5+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 37 | FW | ENG | Josh Coburn | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| Players out on loan: ||||||||||||
| 15 | DF | ENG | Nathan Wood | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Chuba Akpom | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Djed Spence | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | ENG | Jack Robinson | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 38 | MF | ENG | Hayden Hackney | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| Players who have left the club: ||||||||||||
| 5 | MF | EGY | Sam Morsy | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |

### Goals record

    As of 19 September 2021
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | 9 | | CF | Uche Ikpeazu | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | 25 | | CM | Matt Crooks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | 7 | | RW | Marcus Tavernier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 8 | | RW | Onel Hernández | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 11 | | CF | Andraž Šporar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 16 | | CM | Jonny Howson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 27 | | RB | Marc Bola | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 19 September 2021
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | 25 | | CM | Matt Crooks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 5 | | DM | Sam Morsy | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 10 | | CM | Martín Payero | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 14 | | RB | Lee Peltier | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 16 | | CM | Jonny Howson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 27 | | RB | Marc Bola | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 35 | | RW | Isaiah Jones | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 4 | | CB | Grant Hall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 6 | | CB | Dael Fry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 7 | | RW | Marcus Tavernier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 8 | | RW | Onel Hernández | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 9 | | CF | Uche Ikpeazu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 11 | | CF | Andraž Šporar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 13 | | RW | Toyosi Olusanya | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 17 | | CB | Paddy McNair | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 22 | | CB | Sol Bamba | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 1 |

## Background and pre-season

Middlesbrough finished the 2020–21 season in 10th position in the EFL Championship.

### Pre-season

Middlesbrough announced they will play friendly matches against Bishop Auckland, Saltash United, Tavistock, Plymouth Argyle, York City and Rotherham United as part of their pre-season preparations.

## Competitions
### Championship
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest (O, P) | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 80 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 63 | 45 | +18 | 75 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 6 | Luton Town | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 63 | 55 | +8 | 75 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 70 | |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 69 | |
| 9 | Millwall | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 53 | 45 | +8 | 69 | |
| 10 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 52 | 45 | +7 | 67 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 7 May 2022. Source:

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Home or away | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | D | W | L | D | D | L | W | L | L | W | L | W | W | W | L | L | D | D | L | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | L | W | D | W | L | W | L | W | L | D | W | W | L | L | D | L | D | W | W | L |
| Position | 12 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |

#### Matches

Middlesbrough's fixtures were revealed on 24 June 2021.

### FA Cup

Middlesbrough were drawn away to Mansfield Town in the third round. In the quarter-final, Boro were handed a home tie against Premier League side Chelsea.

### EFL Cup

Middlesbrough were drawn away to Blackpool in the first round.

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee |
| 11 May 2021 | DF | ENG | Josh Wells | Lowestoft Town | Undisclosed |
| 25 May 2021 | DF | ENG | Jeremy Sivi | Onside Football Academy | Free |
| 1 July 2021 | FW | ENG | Sammy Ameobi | Nottingham Forest | Free |
| 1 July 2021 | GK | ENG | Joe Lumley | Queens Park Rangers | Free |
| 2 July 2021 | FW | UGA | Uche Ikpeazu | Wycombe Wanderers | Undisclosed |
| 2 July 2021 | DF | ENG | Lee Peltier | West Bromwich Albion | Free |
| 23 July 2021 | MF | ENG | Matt Crooks | Rotherham United | Undisclosed |
| 5 August 2021 | MF | ARG | Martín Payero | Banfield | Undisclosed |
| 9 August 2021 | GK | ENG | Luke Daniels | Brentford | Free |
| 10 August 2021 | DF | CIV | Sol Bamba | Cardiff City | Free |
| 20 August 2021 | FW | ENG | Toyosi Olusanya | Billericay Town | Free |
| 18 November 2021 | DF | WAL | Neil Taylor | Aston Villa | Free |
| 7 January 2022 | MF | NIR | Caolan Boyd-Munce | Birmingham City | Undisclosed |
| 14 January 2022 | MF | AUS | Riley McGree | Charlotte | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date until |
| 29 August 2021 | RW | CUB | Onel Hernández | Norwich City | 14 January 2022 |
| 31 August 2021 | CM | CMR | James Léa Siliki | Stade Rennais | End of season |
| 31 August 2021 | CF | SVN | Andraž Šporar | Sporting CP | End of season |
| 2 January 2022 | CF | IRL | Aaron Connolly | Brighton & Hove Albion | End of season |
| 12 January 2022 | CF | ENG | Folarin Balogun | Arsenal | End of season |
* ↑ On 14 January, Hernández was recalled by his parent club Norwich.

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date until |
| 1 July 2021 | GK | ENG | Zach Hemming | Kilmarnock | End of season |
| 27 July 2021 | CM | ENG | Lewis Wing | Sheffield Wednesday | End of season |
| 30 July 2021 | CF | ENG | Rumarn Burrell | Kilmarnock | End of season |
| 9 August 2021 | LB | ENG | Hayden Coulson | Ipswich Town | 31 January 2022 |
| 18 August 2021 | GK | ENG | Sol Brynn | Queen of the South | 2 January 2022 |
| 26 August 2021 | CF | ENG | Chuba Akpom | PAOK | End of season |
| 28 August 2021 | LB | ENG | Jack Robinson | Yeovil Town | End of season |
| 31 August 2021 | CM | ENG | Hayden Hackney | Scunthorpe United | End of season |
| 31 August 2021 | SS | ENG | Stephen Walker | Tranmere Rovers | End of season |
| 31 August 2021 | CB | ENG | Nathan Wood | Hibernian | End of season |
| 1 September 2021 | RB | ENG | Djed Spence | Nottingham Forest | End of season |
| 31 December 2021 | GK | AUT | Dejan Stojanović | FC Ingolstadt | End of season |
| 26 January 2022 | CM | ENG | Isaac Fletcher | Hartlepool United | End of season |
| 26 January 2022 | RW | ENG | Sam Folarin | Queen of the South | End of season |
| 28 January 2022 | CF | IRL | Calum Kavanagh | Harrogate Town | End of season |
| 31 January 2022 | LB | ENG | Hayden Coulson | Peterborough United | End of season |
| 31 January 2022 | CF | UGA | Uche Ikpeazu | Cardiff City | End of season |
| 1 February 2022 | CM | ENG | Lewis Wing | Wycombe Wanderers | End of season |
| 5 March 2022 | CM | ENG | Connor Malley | Gateshead | End of season |
* ↑ On 31 January, Coulson was recalled to facilitate a loan move to Peterborough.
* ↑ On 30 December, it was announced Brynn will return from his loan spell at Queen of the South.
* ↑ On 4 January 2022, Hayden's loan at Scunthorpe was extended until the end of the season.

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee |
| 30 June 2021 | GK | SCO | Jordan Archer | Queens Park Rangers | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | FW | COD | Britt Assombalonga | Adana Demirspor | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | FW | ENG | Ashley Fletcher | Watford | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | FW | ENG | Marvin Johnson | Sheffield Wednesday | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | FW | IRL | Cole Kiernan | | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | FW | ENG | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | Sheffield Wednesday | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | FW | ENG | Tyrone O'Neill | Scunthorpe United | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | MF | ENG | George Waites | | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | DF | ENG | Tyler Williams | | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | DF | ENG | Andrew Wilson | | Released |
| 2 July 2021 | MF | ENG | George Saville | Millwall | Undisclosed |
| 31 August 2021 | MF | EGY | Sam Morsy | Ipswich Town | Undisclosed |
| 11 January 2022 | LB | FRA | Williams Kokolo | Burton Albion | Undisclosed |
| 31 January 2022 | AM | ENG | Marcus Browne | Oxford United | Undisclosed |