Darren Randolph completes Middlesbrough move



West Ham United can confirm that goalkeeper Darren Randolph has completed a move to Championship side Middlesbrough for a fee of £5million.

The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international, who had his final outing in a Hammers shirt in Thursday’s friendly against Fulham in Austria, leaves having made 42 appearances for the Club during a two-year spell.

After signing from Birmingham City in the summer of 2015, Randolph provided back-up to Adrian in his first season, appearing in FA Cup ties and playing a handful of Premier League matches.

However, last season he forced his way in to the team in November and went on to make 22 Premier League appearances, before Adrian returned between the sticks for the final five matches of the season.

The campaign ended with a highlight for Randolph, though, when he won the Save of the Season award at the 2016/17 Player Awards dinner, for his stunning fingertip stop up at Liverpool last December.

Manager Slaven Bilic said: “I would like to thank Darren for his service to the Club over the past two years. He has been a fantastic professional and, as a player and a person, has the respect of everyone at West Ham.

“Darren is a very good goalkeeper, and I didn’t want him to leave. However, I could not guarantee him regular first team football and, with the possibility of playing at the World Cup for the Republic of Ireland next summer, he wanted to take up the offer from Middlesbrough.  

“We didn’t think it was right to deny him this opportunity to establish himself as a No1 playing every week in the Championship, but I am sorry to see him go and I wish him all the very best in the future.”

Everyone at West Ham United would like to wish Darren a happy and successful future with Middlesbrough FC.