Middlesbrough closing in on £4.2m transfer for 10-goal midfielder | OneFootball

Middlesbrough are closing in on a deal to sign Hajduk Split and USMNT U23 midfielder Rokas Pukstas this summer

Middlesbrough are closing in on a deal to sign Hajduk Split and USMNT midfielder Rokas Pukstas, bringing their total summer haul to nine fresh faces and ten additions in total.

Middlesbrough, by all accounts, have had an incredible summer window, and with the deadline fast approaching, Kim Hellberg's side are not letting up, as according to Mike McGrath via X, Boro have won the race for midfielder Rokas Pukstas.

The Teesside outfit has reportedly agreed a fee worth around €5 million (£4.2 million) with Croatian side Hajduk Split to bring the 22-year-old to the North East of England, where he will provide another incredible option in the middle of the park at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough 'win the race' for Hajduk Split and United States youth international Rokas Pukstas

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Pukstas, 22, was born in the United States to Lithuanian parents, and has represented the North American country regularly at youth level since 2019, although he is eligible to represent the country of his parents as well.

The midfielder, who is comfortable operating in either a more advanced or deeper role in the centre of the park, previously had a trial with Manchester United as a youngster, before making a name for himself with Croatian outfit Hajduk Split and becoming one of the first names on the team sheet in recent seasons, scoring 10 goals in all competitions in 2025-26.

Premier League outfit Hull City were linked with a move for Pukstas earlier on in the window, but now, it is Boro who have seemingly got a deal over the line for the American, who will link up with compatriots Sebastian Berhalter, Aidan Morris, and Max Arfsten on Teesside.

Pukstas could be the potential replacement for David Strelec, who has been heavily linked with a move to Greek side PAOK, as FLW's Boro fan pundit, Liam Day, has urged the club to sell previously.

Why Middlesbrough want to sign USA youth international Rokas Pukstas

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Still only 22, Pukstas has more first-team experience than most at his age, having racked up over 140 appearances for the Split-based outfit across all competitions, including in the Europa League and Europa Conference League, grabbing 36 direct goal contributions in that time.

Boro have made a habit of exploring the American market in recent years, especially in this window, with both Berhalter and Arfsten having arrived in the past month or so, whilst French defender Adilson Malanda joined from North Carolina-based outfit Charlotte last summer.

With Hajduk, Pukstas tends to operate in a more advanced role, and is more of a goalscorer rather than a creator, whilst his off-the-ball work, crucially, was one of the best for his position in the Croatian top-flight last season, more than capable of pressing from the front.

Offering competition for Leo Castledine, Jeremy Sarmiento, and Riley McGree, and still just 22, there remain areas of his game that need ironing out, but time is more than on his side, and for the quoted €5 million (£4.2 million) fee, Boro and Hellberg could well be getting yet another bargain.

How have Middlesbrough fans reacted to the Rokas Pukstas news?

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This Middlesbrough supporter appears to be ecstatic about Pukstas' addition, citing his capability of grabbing goals from midfield, and the numerous European clubs that were previously chasing his signature.

Not much to read into from this Boro fan, who has made their thoughts on the American's addition loud and clear.

With both Berhalter and Arfsten having no experience of the league prior, just like Pukstas, there are obvious concerns surrounding their ability to adapt to the league, as raised by this supporter.