Middlesbrough is finalizing a deal to acquire U.S. national team wingback Max Arfsten from the Columbus Crew, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.
Boro will pay a fee up to $7.5 million including add-ons, while the Crew retain a sell-on clause, sources add. Arfsten is expected to travel in the coming days to complete the move, pending formalities, sources say.
Arfsten will become the third U.S. men’s national team player at the club. He’ll join former Crew teammate Aidan Morris, who joined Boro from Columbus in 2024, as well as former Crew academy player Sebastian Berhalter, who joined Boro from Vancouver this week. Boro also has former Charlotte FC center back Adilson Malanda in the squad.
The 25-year-old has 21 caps for the U.S. and was part of the team at the World Cup this summer. Arfsten developed into one of the best wingbacks in MLS and a key player for the Crew.
Arfsten has five goals and six assists in 18 appearances for the Crew in all competitions this year, despite the team starting slow and enduring a coaching change in May. He won MLS Cup (2023) and Leagues Cup (2024) with the Crew.
Boro had a bid rejected for Arfsten last summer, as did French side FC Toulouse. Boro kept its interest strong and continued to push for the player, who is now on the verge of signing with the English Championship side.
If all add-ons hit, Arftsen’s deal would be the third-largest outbound transfer in Crew history behind Cucho Hernández (Real Betis, $16 million) and Diego Rossi (CF Monterrey, up to $8 million).
It’s a transitional summer for the Crew, who are still working under interim head coach Laurent Courtois. Rossi and Arfsten departing will change the team, though key signing Brais Méndez will soon debut and the club will remain active this summer.
Under Courtois the team has performed much better, winning three of four games. The club is also still alive in the U.S. Open Cup and will host Orlando City in a semifinal in September.
