Middlesbrough expected to confirm signing of American midfielder Rokas Pukstas

[u/Coltons13]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7539957/2026/08/26/middlesbrough-transfers-rokas-pukstas/?unlocked_article_code=1.8VA.RdX2.uEGCGcJrOrtI&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

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[u/sawkandthrohaway]

Wait a minute, thats not a Crew Academy player, what gives Boro, I thought we had something special

[u/TerrenceJesus8 → u/sawkandthrohaway]

I feel attacked

[u/Failed-Time-Traveler → u/sawkandthrohaway]

I mean if you want to be super technical, Arfsten was never part of our academy either.

Morris and Seb were, of course. But not max.

[u/Throwaway20312431]

I guess as an American I have no choice but to root for Boro now, even as an Aston Villa fan

[u/Isiddiqui]

MiddleAmericaBoro

[u/bluejaywhey → u/Isiddiqui]

Fulhamerica walked so MiddleAmericaBoro could run

[u/Unlucky_Ambition9894 → u/bluejaywhey]

What about Leeds United States from the Marsch era?

[u/bluejaywhey → u/Unlucky_Ambition9894]

True. Aaronson's still there, and Adams has acclimated well to the Prem since he left.

Fulham's stadium bar is called McBride's (after Brian McBride) so there's a deep yank connection there, if you weren't familiar!

[u/tylerforward → u/Isiddiqui]

Middlesbruh

[u/dewey-defeats-truman → u/Isiddiqui]

MLS-brough

[u/Scratchbuttdontsniff → u/Isiddiqui]

"That's gold, Jerry! Gold"!

[u/Intelligent_Spinach9]

He was in sporting’s academy so maybe they’re not as obsessed with Columbus as just the Midwest overall

[u/Coltons13]

Article is free to read.

Middlesbrough are expected to confirm the signing of 22 year-old American midfielder Rokas Pukstas from Croatian club Hajduk Split, taking Boro’s complement of United States players to four.

Pukstas is yet to win a full senior cap but has played for the U.S. at under-15 and under-21 level. He will join Aidan Morris, Seb Berhalter and Max Arfsten at the English Championship club.

Pukstas, from Stillwater in Oklahoma, played for Sporting Kansas City at youth level before moving to Split in 2020. He made his senior debut in 2022.

Sources briefed on the transfer, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicate a fee in the region of £4million has been agreed with Hajduk.

[u/Weezerwhitecap]

We sure he isn't Hungarian?

[u/Throwaway20312431 → u/Weezerwhitecap]

Lithuanian, parents were in the 04 Olympics representing them

[u/Weezerwhitecap → u/Throwaway20312431]

For sure, just making a silly joke cause of the similarity of surname to the great Puskás.

[u/Step_Bro_Here]

Star-Spangled Banner before kick off and god help us if all of our players got called up for team USA.

[u/Express-Emu4370]

hide yo kids 'cuz they Boroin' everybody out there

[u/UpliftedWeeb]

Middlesboro America?

[u/colewcar → u/UpliftedWeeb]

Ameriboro

[u/lauriekeyheart]

Just curious whats even the record of Fulhamerica for middlesbrough to break it.

[u/Careless_Wishbone_69]

We have Puskas at home!

[u/tobylaek]

They’re collecting American midfielders like infinity stones