Stephy Mavididi signs: Middlesbrough's dream XI after September 1st | OneFootball

Ideally, this is what Middlesbrough's starting eleven will look like following the transfer window's closure

It's been a brilliant transfer window thus far for Middlesbrough, with the higher-ups at the Riverside working tirelessly to give Kim Hellberg the tools to succeed in his first full campaign at the club.

Boro have added six new faces to the side this summer and have addressed key areas that needed improving, such as quality depth at the top end of the pitch, a more attacking left-back and an improvement in goal, while also replacing Championship Player of the Season Hayden Hackney, too.

There's still a little more business to do, though, ahead of the transfer window shutting on September 1, and if Middlesbrough can get these next few weeks in the market right, one of the pre-season title favourites could have those odds boosted further.

If they can field this starting eleven regularly after the window closes, there may be little stopping them.

GK - Radek Vitek

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Academy product Sol Brynn was solid in his first full campaign as Boro number one last year, but the club's defensive stats were mainly down to the overall strength of their backline, rather than consistent good performances from the man in between the sticks.

There's no telling if Middlesbrough would be fine with the 25-year-old in goal next season, but Kim Hellberg's side have invested in a new shot-stopper anyway, with Radek Vitek arriving from Manchester United for a guaranteed £7 million, with the potential for that fee to double.

Last season, Vitek was one of the best keepers in the Championship with Bristol City, placing fourth in goals prevented, second in saves per game and seventh in save percentage. At 22, he has plenty of room to improve, too, and could be Boro's number one for a number of years.

RB - Callum Brittain

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One position that Middlesbrough definitely didn't need to upgrade heading into the new season was right-back, as Callum Brittain continued to be one of the best in his position at his new club.

The former Blackburn Rovers man was a constant threat down the right side, contributing five assists throughout the campaign, while also being one of the better defensive wing-backs in the division, too.

He's made well over 200 second-tier appearances now, and he'll be hoping to make his Premier League bow this time next year.

CB - Adilson Malanda

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Adilson Malanda was dominant at the back throughout the second half of last season since arriving back at the club after he was allowed to finish the MLS campaign with Charlotte FC.

His ball-playing abilities were amongst the best in the division, and he was trusted with carrying the ball forward and acting almost as a second holding midfielder, given how much of a territorial advantage Boro had under Kim Hellberg.

The Frenchman was deployed in midfield against Wrexham in the absence of Aidan Morris, but the Swedish boss sees him as a centre-back, and if everyone's fit, that's where he'll play.

CB - Ashley Phillips

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The transfer saga surrounding Ashley Phillips has been a little more drawn out than Boro would have hoped. The England Under-21 international has finally signed.

Middlesbrough needed a starting centre-back to partner Malanda this summer and Phillips can be that man.

The 21-year-old already has over 100 Championship appearances to his name, and is one of the brightest young stars in his position in the England fold.

LB - Max Arfsten

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After pursuing Max Arfsten for a couple of years, there's no way that the 25-year-old will be anything but first choice at left-back at the Riverside this season.

The USMNT international made a name for himself as one of the MLS' top attacking full-backs, registering 20 goals and 19 assists in the three-and-a-half years he spent at Columbus Crew before his £5.5 million move to Teeside.

With how attacking Kim Hellberg likes his full-backs to be, you can imagine that Arfsten will be an instant hit within Boro's system.

CDM - Aidan Morris

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There's an argument to be made that Morris was more integral to the way Middlesbrough played under Kim Hellberg than Player of the Season Hackney was, and many are tipping the American to have a real breakout campaign in 2026/27.

Per Fotmob, the 24-year-old was in the top five percentile of defensive midfielders in the Championship for pass completion percentage, accurate long ball percentage, duels won, successful dribbles, chances created and tackles.

He's a perfect, well-rounded midfielder, and one that Boro fans can't wait to see take those next steps in his first full year under Hellberg.

CM - Sebastian Berhalter

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Pound-for-pound, there's a chance that the just over £1 million Boro spent to bring Sebastian Berhalter to the Riverside could be one of the signings of the season.

The 25-year-old picked up an assist on his debut against Wrexham and was one of the better creative midfielders in the MLS before the league took a break for the World Cup — a tournament he played every game in for the USA, scoring against Turkey.

Partnering with one of his best friends in the middle of the park in Morris could be a recipe for success, too.

CM - Leo Castledine

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Leo Castledine is definitely set for a breakout season in his first full campaign as a Middlesbrough player.

The 20-year-old was electric in his loan spell at Huddersfield Town in the first half of last term, and the 10 goals he scored before he was recalled by Chelsea and sold to Boro ended up being enough to finish as the Terriers' top scorer.

Unfortunately, he was unable to adapt to the physical demands of Hell-ball quickly enough, with his first few months at the Riverside disrupted by a couple of untimely injuries.

Now, he's had a full pre-season to get up to speed, and after making just his second start for the club in the EFL Cup against Wrexham, he'll be expected to have a much more improved role this year.

RW - Morgan Whittaker

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Middlesbrough fans were finally introduced to the Morgan Whittaker which prompted them to move for him in January 2025 from Plymouth Argyle last season, as he scored a team-high 14 goals, while adding seven assists, too.

Despite those stats, though, the 25-year-old was more than frustrating at times. Six of those 14 goals came in successive games, before then scoring three in his following 16, two of which came in the same game vs Southampton.

If Whittaker can be a more consistent goal threat throughout 46 games this year, he'll be very dangerous. It looks like Kim Hellberg is banking on that happening.

LW - Stephy Mavididi

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Starting Jeremy Sarmiento out wide against Wrexham highlighted the relative lack of quality that Middlesbrough have on the left. Kyle Joseph was brought in to help bring those levels up, but, again, lacks that cutting edge.

Granted, Stephy Mavididi, who FLW exclusively broke that Boro were interested in, had a terrible year last season, but the Leicester City wideman can thrive in the right environment, which the Riverside will be this year, compared to the King Power last term.

The 28-year-old is entering the traditional prime years of his career, and contributed to 18 goals the year that Leicester won the title under Enzo Maresca. In addition, he has top-flight pedigree in England and France, so he would be a useful pickup looking ahead to what Boro's near-future could hold.