Middlesbrough look set to announce deal for Hull City striker
Ross Gregory Head of North East Sport
09:48, 09 Jul 2026
Kyle Joseph missed the play-off final after undergoing ankle surgery
(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Middlesbrough will confirm the signing of striker Kyle Joseph later today after a dramatic U-turn over the player.
The 24-year-old's move to Teesside is back on and after Hull City agreed to sell the striker to the side they beat in the Championship play-off final back in May.
Fresh talks over the transfer have seen a deal put in place and Joseph is set to sign a four-year contract at the Riverside Stadium, having passed a medical.
While he remains sidelined following ankle surgery before the play-off final, the striker is nearing a return to training, which is expected towards the end of this month or the start of August.
That has helped allay any fitness fears Boro may have had as they look to boost their firepower, having already landed free agent Myles Peart-Harris.
Joseph had been on the cusp of a £5m move to Teesside at the end of June, with Hull frantically trying to bring in cash to avoid a Financial Fair Play (FFP) penalty.
But the deal collapsed at the last minute, with the Tigers raising the best of £9m through the sales of Ivor Pandur, Akin Famewo and youngster Aidon Shehu to ensure they would not face any punishment. It meant there was no financial need to sell Joseph anymore, but the transfer is believed to have appealed to the player.
Since the original deal fell through, talks have been reignited by the two clubs, and now it's understood a deal will be confirmed by both later today.
It is a coup for Boro, who have been desperate to add extra firepower to Kim Hellberg's squad. The Teessiders lost the Championship play-off final 1-0 to Hull as they missed out on a lucrative windfall which could have been worth up to £365million.
The lack of goals was a real concern for the side. Only two Boro players - Morgan Whittaker and Tommy Conway - bettered Joseph's tally of seven goals and five assists, despite the player only starting 27 of Hull's 46 Championship games last season.
Joseph was one of theHull's stand-out performers last season, but was on crutches during the play-off final after sustaining his ankle problem in the semi-final second leg win at Millwall.
Middlesbrough are preparing for a big summer as they look to rebuild from the heartarche of missing out on promotion to the Premier League.
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