Middlesbrough have completed their second signing of the summer after a dramatic U-turn
Ross Gregory Head of North East Sport
10:30, 10 Jul 2026
Middlesbrough have confirmed the signing of striker Kyle Joseph after finally landing the Hull City man.
The 24-year-old's move to Teesside had stalled last week after Hull City agreed to sell the striker to the side they beat in the Championship play-off final back in May.
But the deal was resurrected after fresh talks, and Joseph finally put pen to paper on a four-year contract at the Riverside Stadium, having passed a medical and agreed personal terms.
The transfer fee is undisclosed but sources have told Gazette Live that it is £4million plus add-ons - which is a £1m saving on what was agreed between the two teams last week.
Reflecting on his move to the Riverside, Joseph said: “I’m so delighted to sign for this massive club. It’s such an ambitious club and I really want to help it achieve its goals.
“I’m an all-action centre forward, but most importantly I want to score goals and help the team win games.”
Joseph's injury situation - he remains out with an ankle ligament problem which saw him undergo surgery and miss the play-off final and could see him not back for the start of the season - is believed to have contributed to the lower fee, with Hull keen to cash in on Boro's interest.
The player was also keen to move to Teesside, having been disappointed after the original deal fell through. 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.
Joseph is Boro's second signing of the summer, having already landed free agent Myles Peart-Harris. They have been desperate to add extra firepower to Kim Hellberg's squad. and will continue to target at least another forward despite the arrival of Joseph and Peart-Harris.
Joseph was one of the Hull's stand-out performers last season, with eight goals and five assists in 27 Championship games.
A Hull City statement said: "Hull City can confirm that forward Kyle Joseph has moved to Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.
"A valued member of the Tigers’ play-off-winning side, the hard-working 24-year-old made 65 appearances in black and amber after signing from Blackpool in January 2025. All eight of his goals and five assists came during last season’s Championship promotion success, with his maiden effort coming away to Bristol City in August.
"We would like to thank Kyle for his effort, dedication and contribution to our promotion campaign, and wish him all the best for the future."
Boro also want to sign a couple of midfielders, a left-back and possibly another goalkeeper before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
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Middlesbrough are preparing for a big summer as they look to rebuild from the heartache of missing out on promotion to the Premier League.
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