Former Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover is the latest Australian to join Middlesbrough, signing for the EFL Championship club for the next three years on a free transfer.
Glover was a free agent after leaving three-time reigning Isuzu UTE A-League premiers City in pursuit of an opportunity abroad and the Australian has linked up with countrymen Riley McGree and Sam Silvera at Boro in England’s second tier.
Called up for the Socceroos’ clash with Lionel Messi’s Argentina last month, he is the first Australian goalkeeper to play for Boro – who lost in the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs last season – since Brad Jones and third after Mark Schwarzer.
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And it means the 25-year-old is back in England, where he spent five years on the books of Premier League side Tottenham without making an appearance.
Glover enjoyed another standout season for City in the A-League Men.
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He amassed a career-high 29 appearances as the 2020-21 champions made history – becoming the first ever team to win three consecutive Premierships.
While City lost 6-1 to Central Coast Mariners in the Grand Final, Glover was a shining light on a difficult night for the premiers.
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He arrived at City from Tottenham in 2019 and made 109 appearances for the club, including being part of each of their three Premiership-winning sides between 2021-2023.
Glover missed only three matches during this time and started in all four of their Grand Final appearances between 2020-2023 – including their victory in the 2021 decider over Sydney FC.
He left as the club’s fifth most-capped player in history.
Glover’s move to Riverside Stadium adds to Boro’s strong Australian connection.
Aside from McGree and Silvera, he follows 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.
Schwarzer won an EFL Cup title with Boro while also reaching a UEFA Cup/Europa League final between 1997 and 2008. Former Perth Glory goalkeeper Jones was also part of that triumphant EFL Cup side in 2003-04.
Boro, coached by Manchester United legend Michael Carrick, have not played in the Premier League since 2016-17.
They kick-off their season at home to Millwall on August 8.
