Aidan Morris has recently outlined four reasons why he decided to join Middlesbrough this summer.
Middlesbrough have been working hard behind the scenes to get the majority of their summer transfer business done early.
With the backing of Steve Gibson, Michael Carrick and Kieran Scott have already made three new additions to their squad this summer.
The latest one was Aidan Morris, who joined the Teessiders from MLS outfit, Columbus Crew.
Morris is a creative central midfielder with a high work rate who should boost Middlesbrough’s promotion chances in 2024/25.
Boro paid around £3.16m to bring the midfielder to the Riverside and he appears to be settling in well.
After signing last week, Morris sent a message to Middlesbrough fans on Instagram.
Morris outlines four reasons for choosing Middlesbrough
Morris was a key figure for Columbus during his several years at the club, helping them win two MLS Cups.
He was also in the midst of an excellent 2024 season when Boro snapped him up, assisting two in his final two games in America.
Now, the 22-year-old, in an interview with BBC Radio Tees Sport, has shared an insight into why he chose to sign for Middlesbrough.
Morris provided four key reasons for his transfer to Boro; the goals of the club, the distinct style Boro have, the opportunity to get better as a player, and his dream of working for Carrick.
He said: “I think the thing that’s really intrigued me with coming here is just the goals and objectives of the club and the things that the team want to accomplish.
“For me, I love to win, I love to be part of a team that has a good style, play a distinct style play. For me all those things aligned. I think for myself it’s an opportunity to grow, opportunity to get better, opportunity to play at a different speed. So I’m always about growing always about learning, so I feel like this environment works for me.
“I grew up watching the Premier League all the time you know United was my team. I grew up watching Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick in midfield so it was a dream to be able to work with him now.”
What Morris can bring to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough lost Paddy McNair and Lewis O’Brien at the end of the 2023/24 season, leaving them short in midfield.
Boro opted not to pursue a move for O’Brien despite Nottingham Forest being willing to sell him this summer.
Morris has now been brought in as a replacement for the Forest man and on paper, should be better at creating attacks and dictating play from deep.
The American has a similar playing style to Jonny Howson. The 36-year-old is expected to be key for Boro in 2024/25, but Morris does look to have been lined up as a long-term replacement for the club captain.
