Middlesbrough have completed the loan signing of Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
The 27-year-old has been Ederson's understudy at the Etihad Stadium for the past two seasons, having spent the 2019/20 on loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf after joining from Columbus Crew SC.
Steffen signed a new long-term contract at City in November last year, committing him to the club until 2025, but his opportunities in the first team have continued to be sporadic - a high-profile error against Liverpool in City's FA Cup semi-final defeat at Wembley also not aiding his cause.
Stefan Ortega's arrival from Arminia Bielefeld has further limited the prospect of Steffen playing more during 2022/23, and it's now been confirmed that Middlesbrough have swooped in to sign the USMNT international on a season-long loan - a deal that should see him immediately installed as the club's number one goalkeeper ahead of this winter's World Cup.
“I think it’s a big coup for us and so I’m delighted we’ve brought Zack in," Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder said of his arrival.
"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.”
Source : 90min