Pukstas is yet to win a full senior cap but has played for the U.S. at under-15 and under-21 level. Matej Sagan / Eurasia Sport Images / Getty ImagesAug. 26, 2026 8:21 am EDT Updated Middlesbrough are expected to confirm the signing of 22 year-old American midfielder Rokas Pukstas from Croatian club Hajduk Split, taking Boro’s complement of United States players to four.Pukstas is yet to win a full senior cap but has played for the U.S. at under-15 and under-21 level. He will join Aidan Morris, Seb Berhalter and Max Arfsten at the English Championship club.Pukstas, from Stillwater in Oklahoma, played for Sporting Kansas City at youth level before moving to Split in 2020. He made his senior debut in 2022.
Hajduk have a Uefa Conference League second-leg tie at Polish club Rakow Czestochowa on Thursday night. It is not known if Pukstas will feature in the game, but at Middlesbrough they are preparing for his arrival afterwards.Sources briefed on the transfer, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicate a fee in the region of £4million has been agreed with Hajduk.It is unlikely Pukstas will be ready for Boro’s next game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Head coach Kim Hellberg then takes his team to Burnley next Wednesday before a trip to QPR three days later.
