Middlesbrough have signed midfielder, Rokas Pukstas from Hajduk Split for £4.3m.
Pukstas’ move comes after a successful start to the season with Split, in which he scored three goals in seven appearances and marked a continuation of a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign which saw him net 10 goals in 36 appearances.
Middlesbrough have paid a £4.3m transfer fee for the 22-year-old American amidst interest from several European clubs, with Pukstas having signed a five-year contract until June 2031.
“I’m delighted to be here. I had a call with the coach and directors here. He’s a fascinating coach, the people are lovely and it reminds me of home. Everything seems aligned now I’m here.”
Pukstas began his career at Sporting Kanas City at their youth academy before he moved to Barca Residency Academy in 2020, which was followed by a move to Split later that year and he went on to make his professional debut in a 2-1 Croatia First Football League win over Hrvatski Dragovoljac in April 2022.
He then spent part of the 2022-23 season on a dual-registration loan at Solin in Croatia’s second tier and scored three goals in five appearances, which led him to be moved into Split’s first team and he managed four goals in 27 appearances that season and helped them win the Croatian Cup.
Puktas subsequently went gone on to net 28 goals in 141 appearances across six seasons at Split, in which he scored an extra-time winner on his final appearance in Split’s UEFA Conference League Play-Off victory over Rakow Czestochowa which left him reflective but keen to help Boro achieve promotion.
“I’d been at Hajduk Split for six years. It was an amazing night and was very emotional. The team knew it was my last game and to have that storybook ending was amazing, but it’s time to turn that page and compete here.
“I want to play my part in helping the club to the Premier League.”
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