Take a look at the best players to come out of Middlesbrough’s academy system over the years.
Middlesbrough’s academy has produced some quality players over the years, with a number of names going to enjoy thriving careers at Boro and with other major clubs.
Boro’s most successful period came between 1997 and 2008, this included winning the League Cup in 2004 and reaching the Europa League final in 2006.
During that time, 76 academy graduates made at least one senior appearance for the club. But who are Middlesbrough’s greatest academy graduates of all time?
Chris Brunt
Chris Brunt is one of the first major success stories to come out of Middlesbrough’s academy.
Brunt joined Boro’s academy as a 16-year-old in 2001 but was unable to break into a first-team littered with top talent.
The midfielder moved to Sheffield Wednesday in 2004 and helped the Owls win promotion to the Premier League.
The 65-time capped Northern Ireland international went on to enjoy a superb career with West Brom, scoring 49 and assisting 84 in 421 appearances for the Baggies between 2007-2020.
Stewart Downing
Stewart Downing has to go down as Middlesbrough’s all-time greatest academy product.
Cleveland-born Downing signed his first professional contract with Middlesbrough in 2001 and enjoyed enormous success with the Teessiders across two spells.
The winger was part of the squad that won the 2004 League Cup final and was in the starting line-up two years later when Boro took part in their only European final to date.
Downing left Middlesbrough in 2009, enjoying spells at Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham before returning in 2015 to help his hometown club win promotion to the Premier League.
Downing is also one of just two Middlesbrough academy graduates to earn caps at senior level for England, featuring 35 times for the Three Lions.
James Morrison
After helping Middlesbrough win the FA Youth Cup in 2003/04, James Morrison was promoted to Boro’s first team in 2004.
Morrison’s arrival came too late for him to play any part in the Teessiders’ League Cup triumph but he did start in the 2006 UEFA Cup final defeat versus Sevilla.
Morrison left Boro in 2007 after making 66 appearances for the club, going on to feature 341 times for West Brom before his retirement in 2019.
The midfielder also enjoyed a solid international career with Scotland, making 43 appearances for the Tartan Army.
David Wheater
Redcar-born David Wheater started his professional career at Middlesbrough, going on to make 141 appearances for the club before being sold to Bolton Wanderers in 2011.
The centre-back was first handed a chance to impress for Boro’s senior side in 2007/08 following an injury to Jonathan Woodgate.
Wheater shone during that campaign and was part of the eleven that famously thumped Manchester City 8-1.
His displays in that campaign earned him a call-up to England’s senior side in 2008 but he did not win a cap for his country.
Lee Cattermole
After spending his entire youth career with Middlesbrough, Lee Cattermole made his senior debut for his hometown club in January 2006.
The aggressive midfielder quickly became a regular feature at the Riverside and, at 18 years and 47 days old, became the youngest man to captain Middlesbrough.
Cattermole made 91 appearances for Boro before going on to enjoy spells with Wigan and Sunderland. He spent most of his career with the Black Cats and was part of the side that lost the 2013/14 League Cup final to Manchester City.
Ben Gibson
Being the nephew of Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson may have got Ben Gibson a foot in the door with the club, but he more than proved his worth over the years.
The centre-back joined the North East outfit’s academy at the age of 12 and went on to make 185 appearances for the club before moving to Burnley in 2018.
Gibson played a crucial role in Middlesbrough’s most recent promotion to the Premier League, forming a key partnership at the heart of a Boro defence that conceded just 31 goals in 46 games – only one more than the current record of 30.
His rise through the ranks at Middlesbrough also earned Gibson and England call-up in March 2017, but he did not win a cap.
Dael Fry
Local boy Dael Fry has spent his entire career to date as a Middlesbrough player and is the only name on this list still currently at the club.
Following Gibson’s sale in 2018, Fry was seen as the natural successor to the centre-back and he has been a regular starter for the Teessiders since.
Fry has over 240 appearances for Middlesbrough at the time of writing and was involved heavily at U18 and U21 level for England, winning the Toulon Tournament in 2018.
Marcus Tavernier
Marcus Tavernier joined Middlesbrough’s academy at U14 level having previously played for Newcastle United.
Tavernier made his senior debut for Middlesbrough in 2017 and went on to score 18 and provide 18 assists in 155 outings for the Teessiders before a transfer to Bournemouth in 2022.
Tavernier is one of Middlesbrough’s most expensive transfer sales of all time following his £10.6m switch to the Cherries.