Championship rival sign two goal West Brom loanee as ex-academy forward who cost £3m released

A former Albion loanee who made his Championship bow at The Hawthorns is set to join rivals Middlesbrough in a reported £3.4m deal.

Jeremy Sarmiento signed for the Baggies on loan from Brighton back in 2023.

He netted twice, against Boro and a stunning winner against Cardiff but he failed to nail down a permanent spot in Carlos Corberan’s side.

Due to a lack of starts he was recalled and sent out to Ipswich, where he helped the Tractor Boys into the Premier League, before further loan moves to Burnley and Serie A side Cremonese.

Then back in January he returned to England and signed on loan for Middlesbrough, with the deal including an obligation to buy.

At Boro he made 17 appearances in the Championship - helping his side into the play-offs before they were handed a place in the final following the Spygate scandal.

Now it has been confirmed that the terms of his January move have been met and the deal will be made permanent for a reported £3.4m.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough are one of the last Championship clubs to put out their released and retained lists, with six senior players departing Teesside.

And one of them is a former Albion academy forward who departed before making it to the first team. However, he went on to carve out a career in the EFL.

Striker Marcus Forss joined Albion as a 13-year-old from his native Finland, before going on to sign a two year scholarship in 2015.

He was called up to the Albion under 21 side for the EFL Trophy - before being released in 2017.

Forss then joined Brentford B, before playing more than 50 times for the first team. Loans to Wimbledon and Hull followed - before he signed for Middlesbrough in 2022 for £3m.

He spent last season out on loan with League One Bolton Wanderers, scoring five times in 27 games.