Middlesbrough must be laughing to the bank as shock £11.2m transfer situation emerges | OneFootball

Boro parted ways with one of their standout players last summer, but things are not going well for the defender.

Middlesbrough have allowed some serious talent to depart the club over the years, but they have always seemed to rebuild and challenge towards the top of the Championship table regardless.

This summer saw academy graduate and Championship Player of the Season Hayden Hackney leave for Everton and while it is early days in the campaign, Boro are among the top sides in the division with promotion a distinct possibility.

The summer of 2025 followed a similar narrative, with Finn Azaz the big departure as he left Teesside for Southampton, where he has since thrived.

However, the same cannot be said for one man who, despite leaving for £11.2million, has struggled, and Middlesbrough must have a wry smile after what has transpired at his current club.

Rav van den Berg's struggles for FC Koln

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Rav van den Berg forged a successful career at Middlesbrough with his athleticism, tackling and confidence on the ball, key assets for the Teesside club.

However, since leaving for Bundesliga outfit FC Koln last year, the centre-back has endured a rotten time of it, making just 14 appearances, and he has yet to feature this season.

Koln failed to keep a clean sheet with the defender in their side last term, and his red card in his fourth appearance against Union Berlin summed up his plight.

The scars of last season have evidently not cleared for Van den Berg, and now reports from Germany suggest that unless things drastically change, his short time at the club could end.

BILD have reported that Sporting Director Thomas Kessler and head coach Rene Wagner had an honest discussion with the Dutchman and outlined the need for improvement.

The publication goes on to state that Van den Berg is now on his final warning after Kessler publicly reiterated the club's stance that a player who costs that much should be playing.

Van den Berg was an unused substitute in Koln's first two Bundesliga games against Hoffenheim and Stuttgart but failed to make the matchday squad for the visit of Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Why Van den Berg was a hit at Middlesbrough

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Van den Berg arrived at the Riverside as a low-cost unknown quantity from Dutch outfit FC Zwolle in the summer of 2023, but he immediately established himself as a first-team regular.

At the time of signing, the defender was just 18, and although he was an unused substitute in the 2023/24 Championship opener against Millwall, he started against Huddersfield Town on matchday three and impressed so much that he went on to make 34 league appearances in his debut season.

The centre-back was recognised for his stellar performances at the end of the campaign and was voted not just Young Player of the Season but also Player of the Season.

A knee injury disrupted the following term, but when he was fit, Van den Berg was a regular starter and cemented his status as an established professional with seismic potential.

Koln reportedly faced a battle to acquire his services, and it is no wonder they are so frustrated at what has transpired, given what he showed in the Championship.

Van den Berg deal another example of smart Boro business

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As previously mentioned, Middlesbrough haven't been afraid to part ways with their talent when their valuation is met, and it has been a recipe for success over the years.

Morgan Rogers and Djed Spence are two players who have thrived since leaving Teesside, but some have failed to replicate their performances, including Chuba Akpom and Van den Berg, highlighting the importance of selling players at the right time.

This model has built sustainability at the Riverside, which is evident in their consistent finishes inside the top 10 over the last six years.

Of course, there will be supporters who point to the fact that Boro should have been promoted to the Premier League by now, but if they carry on as they are, then it only feels like a matter of time.