After guiding Central Coast Mariners to a drought-ending Isuzu UTE A-League Championship, Sam Silvera has joined Socceroo Riley McGree at Middlesbrough in a deal that nets the Australian club a record transfer fee.
Silvera had been heavily linked with Hearts in Scotland, who are home to fellow Aussies Cam Devlin, Kye Rowles and Nathaniel Atkinson, while EFL Championship clubs Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle were also reportedly interested but the but the Mariners star has made the move to Boro.
Silvera was announced alongside goalkeeper Tom Glover in a double swoop from the English club for Australian talent.
INS AND OUTS: Isuzu UTE A-League 2023-24 Transfer Centre
GLOVER TO BORO: Ex-Melbourne City keeper joins Aussie pair at Middlesbrough
The 22-year-old earns a return to Europe after a brief period abroad via Pacos de Ferreira in Portugal, where he did not make an appearance as he was loaned out to Casa Pia, Sanjoanense and Newcastle Jets between 2020 and 2022.
“I just want to say thank you very much to everyone at the Central Coast Mariners,” Silvera said. “We together created some unbelievable moments that I will never forget and will always cherish.
“I am just super happy that I could help be a part of an amazing achievement for the club and for the community. I will always love this club and it will always have special place in my heart. Until next time Mariners family.”
He joins forces with fellow Australian McGree, whose Boro lost in the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs in England’s second tier under Manchester United great Michael Carrick last season.
Silvera is the second Central Coast marvel to move to the North East of England after former Mariners teammate Nectarios Triantis joined Tees-Wear rivals Sunderland. The pair could potentially reunite when the two sides meet in the Championship on October 8 (AEST).
“For Sammy to have the opportunity to join a club like Middlesbrough is testament to the development of him both as a person and a player in such a short time,” said Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery.
“When we brought Sam back to the club he had been through a difficult few years of not playing many minutes of football and not really enjoying his football. I had no doubt of his potential and in the second half of the season he excelled and along with the other attacking players showed massive quality.
“As a club we are delighted for Sammy to provide him this pathway to Europe’s elite and to a club challenging for the Premier League.
“Sam had strong interest from a number of clubs around Europe and in Asia. Matt Simon negotiated offers around and in excess of Middlesbrough’s bid, but with Sammy’s desire to join the club and also be closer to his mum who lives in the UK, we worked together to make this happen. This move also shows the Mariners brand has become a real name around the world.”
It was a standout season for Silvera, who returned to Gosford for the 2022-23 campaign.
TILIO TO THE CHAMPS: Aussie star completes record move to Celtic
The London-born attacker, who previously played for the Mariners in 2019-20 before spending the 2021-22 season on loan at F3 rivals the Jets, stepped up to fill the void left by Garang Kuol’s Newcastle United in January.
AUSSIES ABROAD: Triantis v Luongo on Championship’s opening day as fixtures released for 2023-24
He caught the eye after scoring a career-high eight goals, including a goal in last month’s incredible 6-1 win over three-time reigning premiers Melbourne City in the Grand Final, and supplying five assists.
It was the Mariners’ first Championship in a decade.
Silvera’s move to Middlesbrough maintains their strong connection with Australia.
VISIT KEEPUP’S WOMEN’S WORLD CUP HUB!
Aside from McGree, both he and Glover follow in the footsteps of Socceroos legends Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer, Scott McDonald, Rhys Williams, Brad Jones, Paul Okon, Tony Vidmar, Luke Wilkshire, Craig Johnston and Massimo Luongo to have played for the club.
Boro have not played in the Premier League since they were relegated at the end of the 2016-17 season.
