After four successful seasons with the Columbus Crew, Max Arfsten’s time in Major League Soccer is coming to a close. The Black & Gold and United States Men’s National Team defender is set to complete a move to English Championship side Middlesbrough. This was first reported by The Athletic’s Tom Bogert and confirmed by Massive Report through club sources.

Middlesbrough agreed to pay Columbus a fee of up to $7.5 million, including add-ons, for Arfsten, 25, who signed a contract extension through 2027 with a club option for the 2028 season in 2024. The Crew will retain a sell-on clause, which could result in additional payments if the English club sells Arfsten in the future.

After pursuing Arfsten for nearly two years, Middlesbrough finally got their man. The Teessiders made an offer for the versatile player last summer, but the bid was rejected. Interest renewed this offseason, but a deal only came together in recent days, according to club sources.

The move will reunite Arfsten with Aidan Morris, the former Black & Gold who moved to Middlesbrough in 2024 for $4 million and has since become a regular starter under manager Kim Hellberg. Boro have also signed Crew Academy product Sebastian Berhalter this summer, meaning the Riverside Stadium will soon host a trio of familiar MLS faces in the Championship.

A Fresno, California, native, Arfsten played college soccer at UC Davis before leaving early to sign with San Jose Earthquakes II in 2022, the inaugural year of MLS NEXT Pro. He exploded in his debut reserve season, posting nine goals and six assists in 24 appearances, which was enough to make him the first-ever MLS NEXT Pro player selected in the MLS SuperDraft when Columbus took him No. 14 overall in December 2022.

The rookie wasted little time making an impact. Arfsten scored on his MLS debut against Atlanta United in March 2023 and added a goal in the postseason as the Crew won the MLS Cup that fall. Under then-head coach Wilfried Nancy, he developed into a full-time wing-back and broke out in 2024, playing a central role as the Black & Gold won the Leagues Cup and reached the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final.

This season has been his best yet. Arfsten had four goals and four assists in 15 regular-season appearances for Columbus before the MLS season paused for the World Cup. He earned a spot on the U.S. World Cup roster and made his tournament debut off the bench in the Round of 16 loss to Belgium, earning his 21st cap for the USMNT. Arfsten returned to the Crew in time to be named an MLS All-Star, playing the second half in a 4-3 win for MLS over the Liga MX All-Stars.

The move marks the second major departure f the summer window for the Black & Gold. Columbus sold forward Diego Rossi, another key member of the 2023 MLS Cup team, to CF Monterrey of Liga MX in a deal worth up to $8 million. The Crew has signed Argentine midfielder Lautaro Giaccone, a potential Arfsten replacement at wing back, on loan from Argentine club Argentinos Juniors; added Designated Player attacker Brais Méndez; signed free agent defender Brooks Lennon, another potential Arfsten replacement; reacquired defender Andres Herrera from River Plate after his loan expired; and signed veteran center back Eric Bailly. Both Giaccone and Méndez arrived in Columbus last week and Herrera has returned to the club as well after awaiting a new visa.

The Black & Gold continue to explore options for another Designated Player addition. Following the season-ending injury to forward Wessam Abou Ali, Columbus opened an additional Designated Player spot. However, that spot will remain open only while Abou Ali is on the season-ending list, complicating the search for an impact attacking replacement.

After an important 2-1 win over in-state rival FC Cincinnati last Saturday at home, the Crew will travel to take on Inter Miami this weekend.