Kieran Scott says Middlesbrough’s summer exits made football sense because the players “wanted to leave”.
The head of football outlined why Finn Azaz and Rav van den Berg departed, stressing Boro’s focus on keeping only those fully committed to Rob Edwards’ project.
‘Disengaged’ Rav, a decisive Finn — and a clear club stance
Scott was candid when asked about Van den Berg, who joined FC Köln after weeks on the sidelines.
“I’ll be careful what I say because Rav is just a young lad, and he is a really good player. But he just looked a bit disengaged with it all, to be honest,” he said. “There was an opportunity that came up for him and it just felt like it was the right thing for all parties.”
He added that the centre-back’s exit was mitigated by succession already in motion:
“We’re getting Adilson [Malanda] in January and then, to be fair, I think Alfie Jones has filled that void with no problem whatsoever. We’ve got five brilliant centre-backs as it is, and then Adilson will come over and help complement it.”
Azaz’s situation was different. Trusted to start at Norwich amid bids, he scored and then moved on after making his preference clear.
“It’s always a difficult decision to let someone who has produced those kinds of numbers go,” Scott admitted. “Not in the same sort of way as Rav, but Finn had also made it clear where he stood… Southampton in the end got to a point where we felt it was doable.”
“Listen, everyone is entitled to their views… But with Finn, I think he felt that a bit, and I think that might have been a part of his reasoning for wanting to move on… He goes on to Southampton and we wish him well… and we’ve then used the money to bring other players in. That’s football and we all move on.”
EFL Championship
Scott referenced the reinvestment that followed, name-checking attacking targets as Boro reshaped under Edwards. The broader takeaway was consistent: if a player’s head is elsewhere, Middlesbrough will protect dressing-room standards and recycle funds into the squad.
Writer’s View
This was a summer defined by clarity. Middlesbrough banked significant fees, backed the head coach and kept cultural lines bright. Van den Berg’s talent is undeniable, but if disengagement creeps in, replacing him with an in-form Alfie Jones now and Adilson Malanda in January preserves stability. Azaz’s goals and creativity are hard to lose, yet a player openly set on a move rarely thrives in the long term.
The language from Scott is telling: respect for individuals, zero drama, and a firm belief that the collective is stronger when every voice in the room wants to be there. If recruitment up front lands as intended, Boro will feel they have traded short-term discomfort for a more unified, promotion-chasing group.
