How much Middlesbrough are actually paying to sign Max Arfsten | OneFootball

Middlesbrough will be paying $7.5 million (£5.6 million) for the signing of Columbus Crew utility man Max Arfsten, new reports have revealed

Middlesbrough are closing in on the club's sixth signing of the summer transfer window in the form of USMNT wing-back Max Arfsten, and the exact financial details surrounding the impending deal have emerged in a new update.

Boro have enjoyed a busy summer of transfer activity to date as Kim Hellberg bids desperately to avenge last season's agonising play-off final defeat to Hull City and finally return the Teessiders to the Premier League following a decade-long absence.

Hellberg's side flirted heavily with automatic promotion last time out before finishing fifth, but the top-two will be precisely where their aspirations lie next term and they will commence the new season at home to newly-promoted Lincoln City on August 15.

Until then, Middlesbrough's business is only expected to continue kicking on and, as Arfsten prepares to make his way to the Riverside Stadium, it has become clearer exactly how much Boro will be paying to make their latest deal happen.

Middlesbrough's Max Arfsten transfer fee revealed

The latest update comes from The Athletic's Tom Bogert, who has reported the financial outlay that Middlesbrough are set to part with in order to seal Arfsten's signature from Columbus Crew ahead of the 2026/27 season.

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As per Bogert's report, Middlesbrough are poised to splash out up to $7.5 million (£5.6 million) for Arfsten, with the 25-year-old expected to travel to Teesside in the coming days to put pen-to-paper on a deal with Hellberg's side.

It's said that the MLS outfit will retain a significant sell-on clause, though the exact portion of that remains unclear at this moment in time.

Either way, Arfsten's impending arrival represents yet another statement of intent from Boro in this summer's window, in which they have acquired a host of big-money additions to strengthen their ambitions of achieving promotion.

Max Arfsten is a strong signing for Middlesbrough

Although the MLS is generally perceived to be of a slightly lower quality, plenty of talent has emerged from the Stateside production line to enjoy a strong impact in more competitive European divisions and Middlesbrough themselves know that all-too-well with Aidan Morris, who has completed two impressive campaigns after arriving from no other than Columbus Crew.

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Middlesbrough will hope that Arfsten's signing can prove similarly successful and there is every chance that the versatile wide-man can become a major hit on Teesside.

A dynamic and attack-minded presence in wide areas, Arfsten is a wing-back by trade but can play further forward and has enjoyed a number of eye-catching seasons at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Indeed, Arfsten is capable of operating just about anywhere, and while that creates an element of uncertainty as to what his role under Hellberg will look like, he can fill a variety of holes at once in the Swede's set-up.

The 21-cap USMNT international, who also featured at this summer's co-hosted World Cup as Mauricio Pochettino's side reached the knockout stages, registered a combined 12 goals and 13 assists over the last two full MLS seasons.

So far this term, he has provided four strikes while setting up the same amount to establish his reputation as one of the most exciting performers in the division and his ability to contribute higher up the pitch as a modern day all-action wing-back is hugely promising for Middlesbrough and Hellberg's system.

Middlesbrough have enjoyed a busy summer transfer window

Middlesbrough may have been cruelly denied of promotion to the top-flight, but they have reacted to that disappointment in a strong manner by completing a host of exciting additions to make Hellberg's side even stronger despite the big-money sale of Hayden Hackney to Everton.

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The star midfielder's anticipated exit has freed up vital funds to be reinvested throughout the playing squad, and Arfsten is now set to be the latest fresh face in Hellberg's side heading into the new season.

Middlesbrough's business began when Jeremy Sarmiento's stay became a permanent one as per the obligatory terms in his loan move from Brighton, whereas Myles Peart-Harris has joined on a free after spending the second-half of last term with Oxford United.

Boro showed their intent when they completed an initial £10 million deal to sign striker Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur, which could rise to £20 million subject to future add-on criteria being met, having already signed Kyle Joseph after he found himself surplus to requirements at Hull.

Arfsten isn't even the first USMNT international to arrive at Middlesbrough this summer, as he will be joining the impressive Sebastian Berhalter following his recent arrival from Vancouver Whitecaps.