Aidan Morris reveals Michael Carrick factor that convinced him to join Middlesbrough | OneFootball

The American midfielder is set to join Boro imminently.

Aidan Morris' call with Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick was what convinced him that he should join the Championship side this summer.

To say that Boro signing the American is an open secret is to understate it. The deal has not been officially completed yet, but it's been openly acknowledged that it's going to happen.

Morris has spoken about what is now his final game for Columbus Crew, a match against Kansas City that his team won 4-0 - Morris provided an assist for one of the goals.

The 22-year-old central midfielder, will leave the MLS side to move to Teeside, a 14-hour flight from where he is currently based in the US. Boro are scheduled to pay just over £3 million, according to The Athletic, and Crew have a sell-on clause included in the deal too.

His Championship days are edging ever closer. Boro will face Swansea City at home in their opening match of the season, and fans will be hoping that Morris can make an impact on the team.

The midfielder's immediate effect may come in a slightly unusual way though. Whilst his future teammates are just getting started with pre-season, he has already played 16 MLS games in their 2024 campaign.

Logic suggests that, at the start of the season, he should be fit and firing while the rest get up to speed. What the Boro staff will be conscious of is not wanting him to get to the end of the term and be burnt out and/or injured.

Morris has said that he's never really had to move before, so this will be a big change for him, but his desire and dream to play in Europe is well known.

Such a drastic change in location can be a bit unnerving for anyone, but the 22-year-old has revealed the reason why he feels he has to come to Middlesbrough.

Aidan Morris on his phone call with Michael Carrick

The soon-to-be Boro player has said that the chat that he had with Carrick was what made him think that the Riverside was the right place for him to be.

Morris told NBC4 Columbus: "This has been a couple of months in the making. They were interested but still had time left in their season so wanted to figure out how that went.

"I was able to have a phone call with Michael Carrick, who is someone I looked up to growing up watching soccer. Being able to have a call with that guy was special.

"He gave me his pitch and what Middlesbrough are all about. This seemed like the right step to take for my career and for me as a person to step out of my comfort zone and go and challenge myself."

The attitude of Aidan Morris will be one that Boro fans like

As per usual, the main focus with signings is on their ability. How can they impact the team? Where do they fit into things? Is this a position that needs addressing?

All of those conundrums will be answered in due course. Morris' time in the MLS suggests that those answers will be positive ones. He's a centre-mid with great vision but he also possesses that element of robustness that can help to balance Carrick's midfield.

Arguably, his most key traits have been shown already: his desire, passion and willingness to test himself.

Taking the decision to move across the world at 22 to a place you've never been, to a league that is notoriously difficult takes great character. That bravery should quickly endear him to the Boro faithful.