Middlesbrough near permanent deal as player agrees personal terms

Middlesbrough are moving closer to completing a permanent transfer for Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Jeremy Sarmiento, with reports suggesting personal terms have already been agreed and negotiations are advancing rapidly.

The Championship club are keen to strengthen their attacking options during the winter transfer window and see Sarmiento as an ideal addition who could benefit from a fresh start away from the Premier League. The 23-year-old has found opportunities hard to come by at Brighton and is now edging towards an exit that could reignite his career.

Born in Spain but representing Ecuador at international level, Sarmiento has struggled to establish himself at the Amex Stadium since breaking into the senior setup. Brighton have regularly sent him out on loan in an effort to accelerate his development, but those moves have delivered mixed results. Since 2023, he has spent spells away from the south coast, most recently joining Italian side Cremonese on loan last summer.

That move, however, has not gone according to plan. Sarmiento has featured sparingly in Serie A, managing just 137 minutes across seven league appearances this season. His involvement has dwindled significantly, with his last outing for Cremonese coming back on November 7. Since then, he has been largely frozen out of matchday squads, raising questions about his immediate future.

Middlesbrough are now ready to step in and offer the midfielder a clear route back into regular football. Head coach Kim Hellberg is keen to add creativity and attacking flair to his squad as Boro push on in the second half of the season, and Sarmiento is viewed as a player who could thrive in the Championship environment.

Reports emerged last week from Argentine outlet Olé claiming that Middlesbrough had already opened discussions over a potential January move. For the deal to progress, Brighton would first need to terminate Sarmiento’s loan agreement with Cremonese before allowing him to head to Teesside. Those hurdles now appear to be close to being cleared.

Italian journalist Lorenzo Lepore has since provided a significant update on the situation. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Lepore revealed that Sarmiento has given the green light to the move and has already reached an agreement with Middlesbrough over personal terms. According to the journalist, the player is now edging closer to a switch to the Riverside Stadium.

This development suggests that Boro have made tangible progress in talks with Brighton, moving the deal beyond initial interest and into more advanced negotiations. While a final agreement between the two clubs is still required, there is growing optimism that a deal can be struck in the coming days.

Importantly, the transfer is no longer expected to be a short-term solution. Earlier reports had suggested Middlesbrough were exploring a loan move for the remainder of the season, but fresh information indicates the Championship side are now pushing to secure Sarmiento on a permanent basis.

Lepore has claimed that Boro are close to finalising a full transfer, aligning with comments previously made by the player himself. Around two months ago, Sarmiento publicly hinted that he would welcome a permanent departure from Brighton, having struggled to carve out a consistent role at the club.

A permanent move could prove beneficial for all parties involved. From Brighton’s perspective, it would allow them to move on a player who has been unable to cement a first-team place, while also potentially freeing up squad space and wages. For Middlesbrough, it represents an opportunity to secure a talented, international-level attacker entering his prime years.

Most importantly, the move could be exactly what Sarmiento needs at this stage of his career. Regular playing time has been hard to come by in recent seasons, and a fresh start under Hellberg could help restore his confidence and form. With the Ecuador national team in mind, consistent minutes at club level are crucial if he hopes to remain in contention for selection ahead of major international tournaments, including the World Cup.

From a Middlesbrough perspective, adding a player of Sarmiento’s technical ability and versatility could be a major boost in their promotion push. Hellberg has overseen a positive shift in mood since his arrival, and further reinforcements would strengthen the club’s ambitions of challenging for a return to the Premier League.

While there are still formalities to complete before the transfer is officially confirmed, the signs are increasingly positive for Middlesbrough. With personal terms agreed and talks progressing with Brighton, Sarmiento’s long-awaited move to the Championship appears to be gathering momentum as the winter window unfolds.