Middlesbrough shatter transfer record with £20m Lankshear deal
Middlesbrough have completed a club-record £20m signing of Tottenham Hotspur striker Will Lankshear on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old becomes the club's fourth summer arrival, joining Myles Peart-Harris, Jeremy Sarmiento, and Kyle Joseph at the Riverside Stadium. With 72 goals scored and 47 conceded this season, Middlesbrough currently sit 5th in the Championship, 15 points behind leaders Coventry.
Who is Will Lankshear?
Lankshear spent last season on loan at Oxford United, where he scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 44 Championship appearances. The England youth international was a standout performer for Tottenham's Under-21 side, scoring 23 goals in their 2023-24 Premier League 2 title-winning campaign. He made his senior debut for Spurs in October 2024 and scored his first senior goal in the Europa League against Galatasaray.
What does this mean for Middlesbrough?
The signing represents a significant statement of intent from Middlesbrough, who are looking to strengthen their squad for a push towards the Premier League. Lankshear's arrival follows the departures of Hayden Hackney to Everton and Morgan Rogers to Chelsea, with the club set to receive a substantial sell-on fee from the latter's £117m move. Manager Michael Carrick is building a squad capable of challenging at the top end of the Championship, with the club currently in 5th place and 15 points behind leaders Coventry.
What comes next for Lankshear?
Lankshear is expected to hit the ground running at Middlesbrough, with the club's next fixture scheduled for February 27, 2027, away at Wolves. The striker is eager to make an immediate impact and help the club achieve their ambitions. "Middlesbrough is such a massive club," Lankshear said. "I deem it to be a Premier League club. The project here really excites me. I can't wait to get started and be part of the journey."
