From Chuba Akpom to Matt Crooks - How Middlesbrough exiteers of the last year fared elsewhere

Middlesbrough lost some big players at the end of last season in what became a summer of squad upheaval for them.

It resulted in a big squad overhaul that meant 12 new arrivals for Boro last summer and, with gelling issues early on, another slow start to the season. With foundations built over the course of the season, however, a strong end to last season leads to much optimism for the season ahead, with plans to have a bigger focus on quality over quantity this time around.

It cannot be understated just how valuable continuation could be for Michael Carrick's side next season, with many important players leaving Boro in the last 12 months. Not including players who left the club on loan, there were 15 players to leave the club. We take a look at how they all fared at their new clubs.

READ MORE: Cameron Archer faces uncertain summer as former Middlesbrough striker returns to Aston Villa

Zack Steffen - A successful loan spell at Boro came to an end last summer with little chance to resign the Man City man due to his wages. With that in mind, Steffen opted to get knee surgery last summer and joined Colorado Rapids in January after completing his rehabilitation. He's so far played all 16 games of Colorado's MLS campaign, with the Rapids currently occupying the seventh and final play-off spot of the Western Conference.

Joe Lumley - Released by Boro last summer, Lumley was surprisingly picked up by Southampton on a free. Back up to Gavin Bazuna, his four appearances came in the FA Cup as they reached the fifth round before defeat to Liverpool. His contract was extended a further year in March, so he is now a Premier League player.

Luke Daniels - Also released last summer, Daniels' goal was to play first-team football after two difficult years on Teesside. He joined Forest Green Rovers but unfortunately managed only 20 appearances. After a spell on the sidelines throughout October and November, he returned but was stretchered off in a defeat to Mansfield in February and didn't play again. With Forest Green relegated to the National League, Daniels finds himself a free agent again this summer.

Darnell Fisher - The former Celtic right-back was given a cameo sub appearance in the final game of the regular season against Coventry after two years out injured. Released that summer though, he announced his retirement in October. He ultimately couldn't get himself back to full fitness to find a new club.

Grant Hall - Released after a season on loan at Rotherham last summer, he returned to the New York Stadium on a free transfer. However, in a season heavily impacted by injuries, he could do little to help as the Millers suffered relegation from the Championship and he was released last month.

Ryan Giles - Giles could have joined Boro last summer but took the chance of Premier League football with Luton. It was a move that didn't work out, however, and after early struggles, he dropped out of the side and ended up joining Hull City on loan in January - in a deal that included a £4m purchase obligation for the Tigers. He managed only 11 starts at the MKM, however, and registered just one assist - a far cry from the form he'd shown during his season on loan at the Riverside.

Marc Bola - Surplus to requirements at Boro, Bola left to join Turkish side Samsunspor. Injuries limited him to only 23 appearances, of which only 14 were starts. Their first season back in the Turkish Super Lig, Samsunspor did manage to finish 13 and avoid relegation though, with Bola no doubt hoping to make a bigger impact next term.

Alex Mowatt - After a Boro loan spell in which he only really managed to showcase his capabilities towards the end of the season thanks to Hayden Hackney's emergence, he returned to West Brom last summer and managed to work his way back into their plans under new boss Carlos Corberan. In fact, he made 48 appearances last season as the Baggies made the play-offs. Out of contract this summer, he has been offered a new West Brom deal, but as yet there is no confirmation on whether the 29-year-old will stay or move on.

Martin Payero - Boro's big South American gamble finally came to an end in the summer. Returning from a loan spell with Boca Juniors in which they opted against exercising a purchase option, Carrick gave the midfielder a try in pre-season and the first-round Carabao Cup tie at Huddersfield. Unimpressed, Payero was allowed to leave and join Serie A side Udinese. He made 29 appearances last season, 21 of which were starts, scoring two and assisting three.

Aaron Ramsey - After his impressive loan spell at Boro, Burnley signed the forward from Aston Villa after promotion. While there were early flashes of the young forward's unpredictable and positive style, he, like Burnley in general, struggled for results. He made only five starts and failed to register a single goal or assist in the Premier League. Sadly, he suffered a serious knee injury in February that ended his season and might not see him return until late in the year.

Morgan Rogers - After Boro profited from two incomings from Aston Villa in January 2023 and also signed Finn Azaz from Villa Park this year, there was also a big departure this time around. Just as he was starting to show his true potential at the Riverside, Rogers was picked up by Villa in a deal potentially worth £16m. He made a quick impression too, scoring in three consecutive home games as they finished fourth to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Chuba Akpom - A magnificent season saw Akpom score 29 goals for Boro. But with just 12 months left in his contract and demands beyond what Boro were capable of meeting, he had to be sold last summer, with Ajax his eventual destination. It's not been an easy season in Amsterdam, however, and Akpom has admitted himself he might leave this summer. Ajax finished a poor season in fifth, with Akpom struggled for starts (only 11 in total). But he still managed 15 goals, scoring at a rate of one every 100 minutes.

Matt Crooks - Crooks was a surprise Boro departure at the start of February, with the English transfer window already closed. Down the pecking order, Real Salt Lake offered him an opportunity he felt he couldn't turn down, and Boro decided to allow him to explore it in honour of his efforts since joining the club. A regular for the MLS side, he has two assists in 14 appearances so far but is yet to get his first goal. Real Salt Lake are currently top of the Western Conference.

Cameron Archer - Archer made a huge impression at Boro, making re-signing last summer an improbable proposition. Instead, he made an £18m switch to newly-promoted Sheffield United. Managing only four goals, however, he couldn't save the Blades from relegation and it's since been revealed that part of the deal last summer was that Aston Villa would have to re-sign him for £14m if Sheffield United went down. Now back at Villa, he faces an uncertain future.

Rodrigo Muniz - Muniz struggled at Boro after Carrick's arrival and would make only one sub appearance after Archer's arrival in January - most games not even making the bench. Back at Fulham this year, however, he capitalised on an opportunity brought about by injuries and went on a scoring run of eight goals in as many games to win Premier League Player of the Month. He scored 10 in all competitions in total and will hope to build on that next season.