Alfie Gilchrist features: 5 Anfernee Dijksteel upgrades Middlesbrough FC must consider moves for this summer | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at five potential upgrades Middlesbrough could sign this summer after the departure of Anfernee Dijksteel.

Middlesbrough are in the market for a new starting right-back this summer after the departure of Anfernee Dijksteel.

The 28-year-old Suriname international called time on his six-year affiliation with Middlesbrough on 16 May, as it was revealed that he would depart the Riverside Stadium as a free agent following the expiration of his contract this summer.

As a result, that leaves just Luke Ayling and youngster Josh Dede as Boro's only senior right-back options, with the former being 33 and coming off the back of a disappointing 2024/25 season, and the latter yet to make his Middlesbrough debut having joined from Celtic's academy setup in January.

The right-back position is understood to have been identified by the club's hierarchy as a key area that requires strengthening this summer, so Football League World takes a look at five options that could provide the Teessiders with an upgrade on Dijksteel.

Alfie Gilchrist

Chelsea

A player who enjoyed a taste of Championship football last season, Chelsea's Alfie Gilchrist could well be available on loan once again this summer.

The 21-year-old spent the 24/25 campaign with Chris Wilder's Sheffield United, where he made 30 second tier outings, as well as a further two appearances in cup competitions.

However, the Chelsea academy graduate featured sparingly in the second half of the campaign due to a troublesome ankle injury. As a result, he would miss eight games, and have to return to Stamford Bridge to undergo treatment before eventually linking back up with the Blades for the final weeks of the season.

But, in the games that he did feature in, Gilchrist looked a smart player at second tier level, and given Chelsea's depth at the right-back spot, another loan move could well be on the cards for him this summer.

If so, Middlesbrough could do far worse than land the signature of a young, yet proven performer at Championship level for a season, and who knows, perhaps even have the option to explore a permanent deal in the future.

Ethan Galbraith

Leyton Orient

One of League One's standout performers last season, Leyton Orient's Ethan Galbraith appears ready to make the jump to Championship level this summer.

The 24-year-old Northern Ireland international was in superb form for the Orient last term, registering six goals and six assists in 39 regular season games.

He also added a further assist in the play-off semi-final second leg v Stockport County, as well as notching one in the EFL Trophy too.

After Orient were resigned to another season in League One with defeat in the play-off final to Charlton, Galbraith looks likely to be on the move this summer, and he fits the attacking mould Middlesbrough have desired from their full-backs in recent times.

Pedro Lima

Wolves

Signed by Wolves for a reported fee of £8.5m last summer, Pedro Lima certainly appears to be a player with a bright future ahead of him.

A Brazilian youth international, the 18-year-old penned a five-year deal at Molineux, with Wolves' sporting director Matt Hobbs saying at the time: "He's a person with huge ambition. He has a massive desire to be the best player he can be and we're going to help him meet his goals."

Lima made just three Premier League appearances last season, totalling just 70 minutes of football, and having signed from Brazilian Serie B side Sport Recife where he'd made just 26 senior appearances, he presents as a raw talent.

However, he's evidently a right-back with plenty of ability and potential, and with time on their side in terms of his contract situation and age, Wolves may well see 2025/26 as the ideal opportunity to hand him his first extended taste of English, and indeed senior football.

His 1.29 shots on target per 90 minutes ranked him in the top 100 percentile of Premier League right-backs last term, as did his 3.86 successful crosses per 90 - per FotMob.

Lima also bagged himself an assist in Wolves' Carabao Cup second-round win over Burnley back in August.

Jonjoe Kenny

Hertha Berlin

The name Jonjoe Kenny will likely be familiar to a number of English football fans, as he spent the first seven years of his professional career contracted as an Everton player.

During that time, he spent time with Wigan Athletic, Oxford United, Schalke and Celtic respectively, as well as making just shy of 70 first-team appearances for the Toffees.

Having left Goodison Park to sign for German side Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2022, the now 28-year-old Kenny has enjoyed two excellent seasons for the 2. Bundesliga side, as well as making 29 Bundesliga appearances for them during their ill-fated 2022/23 campaign.

The former England youth international has just registered seven assists and one goal in 32 league appearances last season, despite Hertha finishing 11th of 18 sides in the German second division.

Crucially, as far as Middlesbrough would be concerned, his contract at the Olympiastadion is set to expire this summer, meaning he could soon be available to snap up on a free transfer.

Kenny had looked certain to join Sheffield United in January, but that move fell through. However, that provided clear evidence that he would be willing to move back to English football, and more specifically, the Championship.

Alex Freeman

Orlando City

As showcased by last summer's capture of Aidan Morris, Middlesbrough are in tune with the talent potentially available to them across the pond in MLS.

Morris has been a roaring success on Teesside so far, and that could fill them with confidence to go back to that market this summer, and one name they could have in mind is Orlando City's Alex Freeman.

The 20-year-old is in the midst of a real breakthrough season for the Florida-based side this season, having already made 19 total appearances, scoring four goals and providing two assists.

Indeed, word of his exploits already seems to have reached these shores, as Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath revealed on 26 May that Championship sides that are heading to the Premier League, meaning Sunderland, Burnley and Leeds respectively, are all interested in securing his signature.

Meanwhile, McGrath also reports that Italian Serie A side Parma have tabled an opening approach worth €2m Euros/£1.6m.

However, as seen with the capture of Rav van den Berg, Middlesbrough can beat sides with bigger budgets and in higher divisions to the signature of a talented young player, and having Morris in the squad could be a real selling point to Freeman.