Paul Merson reveals Middlesbrough regret that made him ‘hate’ himself

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·15 February 2026

Paul Merson reveals Middlesbrough regret that made him ‘hate’ himself

Paul Merson has admitted he joined Middlesbrough from Arsenal for money, something he regrets.

Paul Merson has admitted he ‘hated’ himself after joining Middlesbrough, as he claimed he only made the move for money.

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The attacking midfielder had come through the ranks at Arsenal, and he had enjoyed huge success at Highbury, helping the club to two First Division titles, an FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.

As well as that, Merson had represented England, so for Middlesbrough to convince him to drop to the second tier in 1997, it was seen as a major coup, and a statement of intent from the Teesside outfit.

Paul Merson reveals motivation behind leaving Arsenal for Middlesbrough

Whilst things were changing at Arsenal following Arsène Wenger’s appointment, it was a massive shock to see Merson leave for Boro, who were managed by Bryan Robson.

And, speaking on The Overlap, Merson explained that even though linking up with the England legend was a factor, the overriding reason for the move was financial, due to his personal situation at the time.

“If I’m being honest, at Middlesbrough the draw was the money. I was bang in my addictions at the time, and it was greed. Bryan Robson was part of it (why he joined), but it was greed, pure greed, and I hated myself with a passion. “Every club I went to after that, I took a pay-cut. I took a pay-cut, I hated myself so much. When I grew up as a kid, we had Match of the Day, and we had The Big Match with Brian Moore on Saturday, which was a London derby or whatever, and I used to watch that with my Dad and think I want to be a footballer. Not I want five toilets and four baths, I want to be a footballer. “I didn’t even know they got paid, and then for me to be that greedy, to go for money. I just hated myself, and I loved it at Middlesbrough in the end, I mean, what a place. The people up there, they live for their football.”

Paul Merson was a joy to watch for Middlesbrough

Merson may have joined Middlesbrough for the wrong reasons, but, to his credit, he didn’t let it show on the pitch.

Given the high-profile nature of the transfer, Merson was always going to be under the spotlight, but he embraced the responsibility of taking Boro back to the Premier League.

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With Robson in charge, and Steve Gibson putting serious money into the club, it was an exciting time for Boro, and they ultimately finished second to win automatic promotion.

So, it was a memorable campaign, and Merson was key to their success, scoring 12 goals and producing many standout moments along the way.

Unfortunately for Boro, his time at the Riverside Stadium was a short one, as Merson joined Aston Villa shortly into the next season, with the club making a profit on the £4.5m they paid.

Ultimately, many will appreciate Merson’s honesty here, and despite his personal issues, he always entertained and gave his all for Middlesbrough, so his role in that promotion won’t be forgotten.