Alan Browne believes Middlesbrough can help him achieve back-to-back promotions to the Premier League after swapping Sunderland for the Riverside on a season-long loan.
The Republic of Ireland international joined Boro in a surprise deadline-day move, having only sealed promotion with Sunderland last term. Alan Browne admitted he was close to joining Blackburn Rovers before a last-minute phone call from Rob Edwards convinced him to head to Teesside instead.
Speaking to BBC Sport Tees, the 30-year-old explained:
“It was quite sudden, to be honest. I had an interest elsewhere and was probably more inclined to go there. But the night before the window closed, the gaffer rang me up and said they were interested, and it ticked a lot of boxes for me.
“I think I can help the team as well as they can help me, so it made sense to come here. They’ve made a great start and hopefully we can continue that. Although I’m a seasoned pro in the Championship, I’ve only got one promotion, so I’m hoping to replicate that again this year.”
Edwards’ new-look Boro flying early
Middlesbrough have enjoyed a blistering start under new boss Edwards, sitting top of the Championship table after four matches. Their smart summer recruitment has been central to that momentum.
Slovakian forward David Strelec, signed for £6.5m from Slovan Bratislava, has already caught the eye with a stunning strike against Germany on international duty. Alongside him, three Premier League loanees have been drafted in: Manchester City prospect Sverre Nypan, Newcastle United full-back Matt Targett, and Browne himself.
He has already shown his adaptability, playing across midfield and even filling in at full-back during an injury crisis for the Black Cats last season.
Familiar return on the cards
In a twist of fate, Browne’s first appearance for Middlesbrough could come at Deepdale this weekend against his former club Preston, where he spent ten years and scored 46 goals in 414 matches.
Though highly regarded for his leadership and versatility, Alan Browne found regular minutes hard to come by at Sunderland under Régis Le Bris. The emergence of teenage duo Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham pushed him down the pecking order, and a serious injury in November further disrupted his campaign.
Despite ending the season in a makeshift role at left-back, Alan Browne was not heavily involved in Sunderland’s successful play-off run, which opened the door for a loan departure.
Experience and versatility for Boro’s promotion bid
Now at Boro, Alan Browne is eager to prove his worth once again in his preferred midfield role. His combination of resilience, know-how, and adaptability could prove vital across a gruelling Championship season.
For Edwards, landing a player of Browne’s calibre so late in the window only strengthens his side’s early promotion push. And for the midfielder, another shot at the top flight—this time with Middlesbrough—would be the perfect way to follow up Sunderland’s success.
