Hayden Hackney and more: How former Middlesbrough players are faring after summer exits

Middlesbrough underwent a major summer rebuild, signing 12 players while many familiar faces left, including Championship Player of the Year Hayden Hackney and leading scorer Morgan Whittaker.

Hayden Hackney – Everton

Hackney has settled at Everton. He has started two of their seven matches, missing only one game because of a minor injury.

He has one assist against Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, coming off the bench to help Everton draw. Hackney will now hope to earn more regular starts.

Morgan Whittaker – Colorado Rapids

Whittaker made an excellent introduction to MLS, scoring twice in his first start for Colorado Rapids.

His next two starts have been less productive, bringing no goals or assists and ending in defeat. One of those losses came against St Louis City in the US Open Cup semi-final.

Abdoulaye Kante – Al-Ettifaq

Kante moved to Al-Ettifaq after last season’s loan in France’s second tier.

He has started all three matches since joining, helping the club collect five points during an unbeaten run. He also recorded an assist in his latest appearance.

Kaly Sene – Young Boys

Sene returned to Switzerland with Young Boys after an unsuccessful season at Middlesbrough.

He scored a spectacular bicycle kick and provided an assist on debut. He has since added another goal and assist, giving him two goals and two assists in seven appearances.

Dael Fry – Birmingham City

Fry has found opportunities difficult to come by at Birmingham, where he has not displaced the starting centre-back partnership.

He has made only two brief league substitute appearances, both lasting a minute, and was unused against Middlesbrough. His only start came in the cup, when Birmingham suffered a 6-1 defeat to Brentford.

Sammy Silvera – MK Dons

Silvera joined MK Dons on a free transfer only a week before the season began, meaning he missed a full pre-season.

He has made five appearances, with only his EFL Trophy outing being a start. He is still waiting for his first goal or assist.

Dan Barlaser – MK Dons

Barlaser followed Silvera to MK Dons after spending his final contracted year at Boro on loan at Hibernian. He reunited with former Rotherham boss Paul Warne.

He initially registered three assists in seven starts, but was substituted at half-time during a 3-3 draw with Wycombe and then remained an unused substitute for two league matches.

Barlaser returned for an EFL Trophy victory and supplied two assists, although Warne criticised his first-half performance as lethargic.

Marcus Forss – Neftchi

Forss left Middlesbrough after spending last season on loan at Bolton. He trained with Bolton during the summer but failed to secure a contract.

Instead, the striker made a surprise move to Uzbek top-flight side Neftchi.

His transfer is recent, and he is yet to debut so far.

Seny Dieng – Atromitos

Middlesbrough and Dieng mutually agreed to end his contract 12 months early, allowing the goalkeeper to join Greek Super League club Atromitos.

He appears to be second choice, remaining on the bench for league matches. Dieng has played twice in the cup, keeping one clean sheet while losing the other game 1-0.

Alex Gilbert – Leyton Orient

Gilbert was late finding a new club and joined Leyton Orient from the free-agent market after the transfer window closed.

His first league start could hardly have gone better. Gilbert scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Stevenage.

Darragh Lenihan – Free agent

Lenihan left Middlesbrough when his contract expired after three difficult years affected by injuries.

The defender left hoping to prolong his career elsewhere. His injury history has made finding a new club difficult, and he remains a free agent.

Matt Targett – Hull City

Targett’s loan at Middlesbrough ended alongside his Newcastle United contract. He subsequently joined newly promoted Hull City.

He has so far been behind former Boro loanee Ryan Giles, resulting in one Premier League appearance from the bench. Targett started both Carabao Cup matches, but Hull were eliminated by Sunderland.

Alan Browne – Sunderland

Browne remains at Sunderland after last season’s loan spell at Middlesbrough.

Preston North End reportedly considered a late move, but the proposed return collapsed over contract length. Browne is now well down Sunderland’s pecking order and was omitted from their Europa League squad.

There has been talk of terminating his contract, although he would be unable to play for another club until January.

Sontje Hansen – Gaziantep

Hansen was unable to convince Hellberg that he belonged in Middlesbrough’s plans and was loaned to Turkish Super Lig side Gaziantep.

He has played four times, starting once, without scoring or assisting. Hansen also recently made himself unavailable for Curacao duty following a reported disagreement with Dick Advocaat at the World Cup.

Finley Munroe – Blackpool

Munroe joined Blackpool after struggling to displace Targett at Boro, with regular League One football viewed as beneficial for the 21-year-old.

He scored from the bench on his debut to help Blackpool draw. Five of his nine appearances have been starts, including three in the league, and he has added one assist.

However, none of the matches he has started has ended in a Blackpool victory.

Delano Burgzorg – Preston North End

Burgzorg joined Preston on loan with an option to buy, giving Middlesbrough a potential permanent exit if he succeeds.

Preston have endured a difficult start and dismissed Paul Heckingbottom before the international break. Burgzorg, however, has contributed three assists in nine appearances.

Mixed fortunes after Boro exits

The early returns have been mixed there. Hackney, Kante, Sene and Gilbert have enjoyed encouraging starts, while Whittaker and Barlaser have shown positive moments despite setbacks.

For Boro supporters, tracking these former players will remain an interesting subplot as the reshaped squad develops.