What Aidan Morris told Max Arfsten ahead of Middlesbrough move | OneFootball

Aidan Morris left a glowing report on Middlesbrough, which helped convince Max Arfsten to join this summer

New Middlesbrough recruit Max Arfsten revealed that fellow compatriot Aidan Morris helped convince him to join the Teesiders this summer.

Boro have been very busy in the transfer window this summer, looking to add the much-needed quality to the squad to help bolster their chances of going one further this season than last year's play-off final defeat.

The latest man to join Kim Hellberg's side is Arfsten, a versatile wing-back who Middlesbrough identified as a target more than two years ago, and despite going through three managers since then, have maintained that interest up to this summer, where they've finally gotten a deal over the line.

Max Arfsten reveals what Aidan Morris said to him before joining Middlesbrough

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Arfsten becomes the second American to arrive at the Riverside this summer, after Sebastian Berhalter and, like with the midfielder, the 25-year-old revealed that fellow USMNT international Morris gave a glowing report of Middlesbrough before he signed.

In fact, Morris' pitches to try and bring Arfsten to the club began this time last year, when Rob Edwards wanted to bring him in. According to Teeside Live, all the left-back needed was a little update after their exciting half-season under Kim Hellberg to ensure he wanted to come.

"I've been wanting to come here for some time," he said. "But yeah, especially Aidan definitely, he was just telling me about the style of play here and the culture, the fan base.

"Obviously having Seb [Berhalter] here now, too, it's going to make the transition easier. I mean, anytime you move to a new club, new country, it takes some time.

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"But, you know, having some people that I know already is definitely going to make it easier. I'm hoping the fans like some American boys because it's going to be fun."

Despite the feeling that English football fans have towards American players, it's evident that the sport across the Atlantic is growing, and more and more quality players are coming out of the MLS and impressing in Europe.

Morris is already a fan favourite at the Riverside and excelled especially under Kim Hellberg. If he can be credited with bringing a couple of top compatriots over to Middlesbrough with him this summer, he'll stand in good stead to be loved even more.

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Ultimately, Morris' endorsement of the fanbase and the culture of the team at Middlesbrough was just the final push to tempt Arfsten to join the club. The 25-year-old admitted he wanted to test himself outside the MLS and is relishing the challenge.

Above all, though, the wing-back stated that the ambition of the club this summer was something that intrigued him, and the recruitment team sold the team's goals perfectly.

"I'm so excited to have a new challenge and, more than anything, just excited to play with the guys and hit the ground running," Arfsten added.

"The ambitions of the club [sold the move to me], how they [Kieran Scott and Chris Jones] are as people and just the vision and direction of where this club is going. It's super intriguing to me, and I'm really happy to be a part of it."

The 2026/27 campaign marks the 10th straight Championship term for Boro following their most recent relegation from the Premier League. In that time, the Teesiders have finished inside the play-offs three times and finished inside the top 10 in all but one year.

Ahead of Kim Hellberg's first full season at the helm, though, there's a real buzz about what the club can do. Middlesbrough were electric at times under the Swedish boss last year and have been hard at work bolstering the side so his high-intensity playstyle can be maintained across a long 46-game campaign.

If that can be pulled off, there may be little stopping Boro from returning to the Premier League. Evidently, the recruitment team feel that's the goal this year, and Arfsten is eager to be a part of that.

Max Arftsen arrives at Middlesbrough off the back of a brilliant half-season in the MLS

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Arfsten comes into the Middlesbrough fold with high expectations, having been one of the best players in the MLS over the past 18 months with Columbus Crew.

The 25-year-old was named an All-Star in each of the last two seasons. The 2026 All-Star game was actually the final game he played stateside before his move to the Riverside earlier this week.

In league action, though, Arfsten has excelled as an attacking full-back, contributing double-digit goal involvements in each of the last two full campaigns, and registering four goals and four assists in 17 games in the first half of the ongoing season.

The full-back has also won the most duels out of anyone in his position in the MLS campaign so far and creates more chances than most left wing-backs do, too.

He arrives as the much-needed attacking wing-back who can replicate what Callum Brittain does on the right side and help Kim Hellberg's Boro outfit keep the attacking pressure on in games.

Arfsten's debut will be two years in the making for Middlesbrough fans, but it looks like the 25-year-old will be worth the wait.