Middlesbrough have completed the signing of goalkeeper Zack Steffen from Manchester City on a season-long loan deal.
The 27-year-old has spent the last two seasons as an understudy to City's first-choice stopper Ederson, but he now gets the chance to play regularly between the sticks in the Championship at the Riverside Stadium.
Steffen has become Chris Wilder's fourth signing of the summer window after Liam Roberts, Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Giles.
Speaking to the club's official website on Steffen's arrival at Middlesbrough, Wilder said: "I think it's a big coup for us and so I'm delighted we've brought Zack in.
We've completed the loan signing of @zacksteffen_ from @ManCity ✍️
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) July 19, 2022
Welcome to #Boro, Zack! #UTB
"We knew we had to improve the goalkeeping department. We brought in Liam Roberts and now we're adding Zack who has just signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Man City.
"Man City don't hand out four-and-a-half-year contracts if they don't think anything of them.
"Everyone knows his situation, he needed to play because of the World Cup. He had an agreement with Man City, but he could have easily stayed there and sat comfortably as their number two. He wanted to go out and he's agreed to come here."
The temporary departure of Steffen from the Etihad Stadium comes after the Citizens announced the signing of Stefan Ortega on a free transfer at the beginning of this month.
After a year on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf in 2019-20, Steffen made 21 appearances in the next two seasons with City, featuring only twice in the Premier League.
© Reuters
The USA international was part of a successful squad, though, which won two Premier League titles and the EFL Cup in 2020-21.
As well as receiving 29 caps for the Stars and Stripes, Steffen has also gained experience in his homeland in the MLS, keeping 26 clean sheets in three years with Columbus Crew.
Steffen enjoyed a successful 2018 campaign with The Crew, receiving the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award as well as being named in the league's Best XI and All-Star XI.
The Pennsylvanian-born goalkeeper will now compete with fellow new recruit Roberts for the number one jersey ahead of their opening Championship game of the new season at home against West Bromwich Albion on July 30.
Elsewhere at Middlesbrough, right-back Djed Spence has completed a permanent move to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee believed to be in the region of £12.5m.
Oliver Thomas
