Middlesbrough and Manchester City have reportedly reached an agreement for American international Zack Steffen to join Middlesbrough on a season-long loan. The move comes likely from Manchester City looking to sign goalkeeper Stefan Ortega – which leaves Zack Steffen in an unprecedented spot in Manchester.
Zack Steffen is expected to conduct his medical with Middlesbrough in the coming days.
Before joining the Philadelphia Union in 2012, Steffen began his youth career with West Chester United. Steffen decided to play college soccer for the Maryland Terrapins in May 2013. He played with the Terrapins for two seasons, establishing himself as the starter goalie, before joining German club SC Freiburg and being assigned to the reserves. Steffen returned to the United States in July 2016 with the Columbus Crew, and the following month he signed a loan deal with Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the United Soccer League. Steffen would take over as the Columbus Crew’s starting goalkeeper the following year, winning the Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2018.
Steffen consented to join Manchester City of the Premier League in December 2018. He signed in July 2019 and was immediately loaned to Fortuna Düsseldorf of the Bundesliga for the 2019–20 campaign. He was the starting goalkeeper, but injuries forced him to miss the rest of the loan. The next year, he went back to Manchester City and backed up Ederson. Steffen began with the EFL Cup final and finished with his first career championship in April 2021. As Manchester City defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0, he preserved a clean sheet.
Before getting called up to the senior team in May 2016, Steffen had played for the American youth teams. In January 2018 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he made his senior debut. During the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, he started in goal for the United States, helping the team advance to the championship match, where they lost to Mexico 1-0. He subsequently backed up Brad Guzan for the Nations League, but in the championship game, he started. Steffen started the championship match against Mexico but was replaced by Ethan Horvath in the 69th minute due to a knee injury. Steffen received his first worldwide recognition after his team, the United States, went on to win 3-2 in overtime.
