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Middlesbrough exiteers – how the likes of Tavernier and Watmore got on after leaving Boro
As will inevitably be the case again this summer, many players left Middlesbrough at the end of last season.
Including loan players and those released, there were 14 players who left the club permanently last summer, and then three more during the January transfer window. They include Djed Spence and Marcus Tavernier who both left to join Premier League clubs, boosting Boro’s finances in deals worth over £10m each.
But how did all those players get over the course of the season? As Boro enjoyed a great run under Michael Carrick only to fall short in the play-offs, here’s a round-up of the fortunes of the players who left over the last 12 months.
READ MORE: Middlesbrough’s transfer committee and how recruitment works ahead of the summer window
Djed Spence
Spence joined Tottenham last summer off the back of a hugely successful loan spell at Nottingham Forest where he helped the Midlands outfit win promotion to the Premier League. It’s been a difficult campaign for the right-back, however, with then-Spurs boss Antonio Conte labelling Spence a club signing after his arrival.
The 21-year-old made only six appearances (none of which were starts) in the first half of the season before going out on loan to Ligue 1 side Rennes. There he made ten appearances but his last appearance came on April 1 as a knee injury ended his season prematurely.
Marcus Tavernier
Opting to leave Boro last summer in order to pursue his dream of playing in the Premier League, Tavernier joined Bournemouth and became a fan-favourite in the south coast as he helped the Cherries defy the odds and avoid relegation from the top flight.
The Boro academy graduate scored five goals, including the winner against rivals Southampton, and registered four assists as he established himself as a top-flight player over the course of the campaign. His season ended five games early due to injury, but Gary O’Neil’s side were able to secure the points to ensure their safety.
Lee Peltier
Released by Chris Wilder at the end of last season, Peltier would later say he felt the former Boro boss made this mistake of trying to make too many changes after he was sacked by Boro in October after just two wins from the opening 11 games.
Peltier, meanwhile, secured a free transfer to Rotherham United and made 34 appearances, using his vast experience to help the Millers avoid relegation from the Championship. Out of contract this summer, Rotherham said they are in discussions over an extension.
Sol Bamba
Bamba was also released at the end of last season by Wilder and initially had plans to continue playing. There was said to have been interest but Bamba didn’t take any until deciding to train with Bristol City for a long time without actually signing. He then returned to Cardiff City in January as assistant manager to Sabri Lamouchi as he took his first steps into coaching.
Neil Taylor
Like Bamba, Taylor ended his playing career after leaving Boro. He initially moved to Dubai with his family and did some training with clubs there as well as media work for broadcasters. But having announced officially his retirement from playing, he soon after joined the coaching team for the Wales Under 21’s side.
Nathan Wood
Wood was a surprise departure last summer, given he was someone who had been highly rated at the club for many years and was given his first-team debut at just 16. Wilder ultimately decided he wouldn’t make the grade and sold the Teessider to Swansea City where he would establish himself as a first-choice option. He made 43 appearances in total, with the Swans finishing tenth.
Dejan Stojanovic
Despite last playing for Boro in September 2020, Stojanovic only officially left the club last summer as he joined Bundesliga 2 side Jahn Regensburg in a permanent deal. He started the season as first-choice, starting the first 14 games of the season and keeping six clean sheets. But he lost his place in the team after the World Cup and is set to leave the club on a free this summer.
Uche Ikpeazu
Uche Ikpeazu began last summer training with Chuba Akpom in the under-21 squad, but didn’t enjoy the same redemption arc as the Boro top scorer. Instead, Ikpeazu joined Konyaspor in Turkey on a free transfer.
It was a tough season in the Turkish top flight for the striker, however. In 17 appearances he failed to score a single goal and suffered a knee injury in February that ended his season.
Toyosi Olusanya
After Neil Warnock took a gamble on non-league prospect Toyosi Olusanya, he left the club last summer to join St Mirren. He made just six appearances in the first half of the season, however, before being loaned in January to Scottish Championship side Arbroath where he scored one goal in nine appearances to help them avoid relegation.
Sammy Ameobi
Ameobi suffered a frustrating second spell on Teesside as he suffered an early pre-season injury which meant he never actually kicked a ball for the club. Released last summer, he didn’t find a new club and there has been radio silence from him in that period.
Duncan Watmore
Watmore proved such a shrewd free transfer for Boro but in January the time came for him to move on as the club took the opportunity to sell for a fee when Millwall made an approach six months before his contract expired. The 28-year-old made 16 appearances and scored three goals, including two in the final game of the season against Blackburn as the Lions looked to be sealing a play-off spot, only to surrender their two-goal lead to lose.
Caolan Boyd-Munce
With a lack of opportunities at Boro, Boyd-Munce made what he described as a ‘heartbreaking’ decision to mutually terminate his contract in January, allowing him to find a new club in March. He joined St Mirren in March and had to build up his sharpness so only made three appearances in total. His first start came against Rangers in the final game of the season and he did enough to earn a new 12-month contract.
Massimo Luongo
Wilder brought in Luongo as a free agent in September to boost his midfield options but the Australian failed to make a single appearance before his short-term deal expired in January. Signing for Ipswich, he went on an incredible 15-game run as the Tractor Boys won promotion, only dropping four points and conceding just four goals when he was on the pitch.
The loan players
Four loan players left the club last summer. Boro decided against signing Andraz Sporar permanently and he instead left Sporting CP to join Greek side Panathinaikos. He scored 14 goals as they finished runners-up in the league and the subsequent play-offs.
James Lea Siliki, meanwhile, returned to Rennes after a disappointing season but then left the French side to move to Portugal with Estoril Praia. He scored three goals in 22 appearances as they finished 14th and succeeded in avoiding relegation.
Meanwhile, Aaron Connolly and Folarin Balogun joined in January and had contrasting fortunes post-Boro. Connolly initially moved to Serie B but struggled to make an impact at Venezia and was sent back early. He then joined Hull City but managed just two goals in five appearances.
Balogun, meanwhile, set all kinds of new records as he enjoyed an excellent spell in France on loan at Stade Reims. He scored 20 goals as his side finished 11th. Speculation is now rife on whether he finally makes an Arsenal breakthrough or is sold for a big fee this summer.
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