Following an eye-catching summer of transfer activity, Middlesbrough’s Championship season seemed to be shaping up nicely.

Middlesbrough were one of the Championship’s biggest spenders during the summer transfer window, and their investment has certainly paid off so far, with Kim Hellberg’s side flying high to the top of the table.

Middlesbrough’s summer shopping binge was terrible news for Micah Hamilton.

After a difficult end to last season, which saw Middlesbrough lose to Hull City in the play-off final at Wembley, owner Steve Gibson entrusted Hellberg with strong transfer market support as he seeks to return the team to the Premier League.

Boro’s biggest signing of the summer was striker Will Lankshear, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur for an initial cost of roughly £10 million, plus another £10 million in potential add-ons, but he wasn’t the only big money arrival at the Riverside Stadium.

Radek Vitek, Ashley Phillips, Max Arfsten, Sebastian Berhalter, Rokas Pukstas, and Kyle Joseph all arrived for large transfer sums, while Sam Byram, Connor Barron, Myles Peart-Harris, and Amario Cozier-Duberry joined on loans or free transfers to offer depth to the team.

Boro’s summer transfer activity has undoubtedly given them one of the strongest squads in the Championship, but while this puts them in an excellent position to achieve promotion, the recruitment drive will not have been well received by everyone on Teesside, with winger Micah Hamilton being one player who has been left out this season.

Middlesbrough told to make a severe Micah Hamilton call as Kim Hellberg’s snub persists.

Hamilton joined Middlesbrough from Manchester City for an initial sum of £2 million, which could rise to £3.7 million with add-ons, and the fact that the Premier League club included a buy-back provision in the agreement indicated that he was a highly regarded prospect at the Etihad Stadium.

Hamilton had scored on his City debut in a 3-2 Champions League triumph over Red Star Belgrade just over six months ago, so his arrival was met with great enthusiasm by the Borough fans, but he has had a miserable tenure at the Riverside Stadium thus far.

Hamilton has made only 21 appearances for Borough, scoring 0 goals or providing an assist, and he has not been included to a single league or cup matchday squad this season.

When asked if Hamilton has a future at the club, FLW’s Middlesbrough fan pundit Liam Day suggested it could be the best move for all parties if his contract was terminated. However, he admitted he has some sympathy for the winger given how things have panned out for him on Teesside.”I feel really sorry for Micah Hamilton,” Liam told FLW.I recall how pleased I was when we signed him. The deal appeared to be a reflection of confidence in the player’s potential for future success.

But I’m not sure what went wrong with him. Clearly, there was something. Although there are no guaranties in football, I remember thinking “Wow” when we signed him. I’m sorry for him that it didn’t happen, but that’s football.Am I shocked no team has taken a chance on him? Not really,

because what has he done to deserve one? “He hasn’t done anything in three years, and while he hasn’t had many opportunities at Borough, he’s clearly doing something wrong, proving that he doesn’t deserve one.”I believe that mutual contract termination is the best option for all parties involved.Will it happen? I’m not sure, but I truly wish him the best. “He seems like a nice enough lad.”

Middlesbrough must make big Micah Hamilton decision as January transfer window looms

There were some speculations that Hellberg would give Hamilton a surprise reprieve after naming him to Middlesbrough’s 25-man squad for the first half of the season, but the fact that his banishment has persisted in recent weeks suggests that this was merely a case of making up the numbers.

Hamilton appears to be out of favour at the Riverside Stadium, which would normally lead to a loan or permanent departure in January, but there are doubts over whether the winger will find any suitors.

Hamilton had one previous loan spell away from Borough, spending the second part of the 2024-25 season on loan at League One club Stockport County, but he only appeared five times for the Hatters during a miserable stay at Edgeley Park.

Borough are thought to have permitted Hamilton to train with other clubs throughout the summer in order to help him gain a transfer, but the deal did not materialise, leaving him in limbo with almost two months before the January transfer market opens.

Hamilton signed a four-year contract when he joined Borough, so the club may be hesitant to terminate his contract and have to pay for the remaining 18 months, but at this point, it is difficult to envision any other outcome, especially because he is not playing enough football to put himself in the shop window.

Kieran Scott, Boro’s head of football, has been responsible for some spectacular transfer transactions over the years, but the signing of Hamilton will be remembered as one of his biggest mistakes, and his exit in some form appears imminent in the near future.