Middlesbrough well and truly struck gold with Aston Villa transfer agreement | OneFootball

Middlesbrough well and truly struck gold with Aston Villa transfer agreement | OneFootball

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·21 June 2025

Middlesbrough well and truly struck gold with Aston Villa transfer agreement

Article image:Middlesbrough well and truly struck gold with Aston Villa transfer agreement

Middlesbrough signed Cameron Archer during the 2023 January transfer window and it proved to be a masterstroke

Michael Carrick was appointed as Middlesbrough boss in October 2022 with the club 21st in the Championship table.


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Despite his limited experience in management, the former Manchester United midfielder had an instant impact and injected some much-needed energy and enthusiasm into Boro.

By the time January rolled around, Middlesbrough sat fifth in the table and were well-placed to battle for promotion to the Premier League.

However, to ensure their competitiveness would remain intact until the end of the season, Carrick tapped into the transfer market in search of some extra quality.

Chuba Akpom had been firing on all cylinders and was enjoying a brilliant personal campaign, but Boro’s next addition took their attack to the next level.

Cameron Archer loan signing was a Michael Carrick masterstroke at Middlesbrough

Article image:Middlesbrough well and truly struck gold with Aston Villa transfer agreement

Cameron Archer already enjoyed real Championship pedigree when he arrived at the Riverside, after an impressive loan spell with Preston North End the year prior.

The forward netted seven times in 20 appearances for PNE, including a famous derby day winner against Blackpool.

Despite his brilliant time at Deepdale, Archer opted to link up with Carrick the following January and it turned out to be a wise decision.

His first goal came in a 3-1 win at Cardiff, before netting twice more the next game as Boro defeated Sheffield United by the same scoreline.

Archer would bag further braces against Preston North End and Norwich City and quickly became a crucial component in Carrick’s system.

His crowning moment came against the Canaries, providing two assists alongside his brace to steal the show in a 5-1 demolition job.

"He had a spark about him," stated Carrick regarding Archer to Teesside live following the victory. "I sensed that in training in the last couple of days. I thought he had something about him.

“His smile was back and he had a right spark. It was terrific for him to get his goals. Obviously, he lives off his goals but I thought his overall performance, his link play and his assists as well, were great. It shows what he’s capable of."

Come the end of the season, the then-21-year-old had scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 22 Championship appearances, an outrageous return that played a large part in Boro’s fourth-place finish.

In the end, Middlesbrough were defeated by Coventry City in the play-off semi-final and Archer’s efforts ended up being in vain.

That said, his performances hadn’t gone unnoticed and were enough for him to secure a move to Premier League side Sheffield United in the summer.

Archer failed to hit the same heights after Middlesbrough exit

Article image:Middlesbrough well and truly struck gold with Aston Villa transfer agreement

Following his stint at the Riverside, Archer hasn’t been given a similar platform to express his capabilities.

His next two moves have been to the sides that would go on to finish rock bottom of the Premier League, which haven’t allowed his expressive, goalscoring instincts to take centre stage.

Following Southampton’s relegation to the Championship, Archer will have to move clubs for the third time in three years if he wants to play top-flight football next term.

His time at Boro highlighted the obvious talent and potential he possesses and a move to a more competitive outfit could allow the forward to rediscover the form that once made him such a hot product.

Should he stay put, of course, the forward will be expected to kick on and rediscover his goalscoring touch back in the Championship in 25/26 as Southampton push to return to the Premier League at the very first attempt, and Middlesbrough will know better than most exactly what he's capable of.

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