Tree Climbing: RSL adds Middlesbrough MF Matt Crooks on 3-year deal

The 6-foot-4 attacker most recently of Championship side Middlesbrough has signed with Real Salt Lake through the 2026 MLS season.

If a Tree falls across the Atlantic, does it still make a sound?

Real Salt Lake announced the signing of versatile attacker Matt Crooks, inking the 30-year-old Englishman to a deal through the 2026 MLS season Monday.

The deal, which is pending the receipt of both a P-1 visa and international transfer certificate, brings one of the tallest players in RSL history from the Championship side.

“Everyone on the technical staff and in the front office are quite excited to welcome Matt Crooks to Salt Lake,” said Schmid, noting that the 6-foot-4 Crooks joins Kenny Deuchar, Jamison Olave and Kevon Lambert as the tallest players in RSL’s 20-year history. “Matt is a player that should fit in very well on and off the field. He brings size and veteran leadership. He has good feet and his awareness on both sides of the ball really stands out.

“Crooks is always very involved in the final third, always in the mix with the ability to score and set things up. He can combine well and he’s willing to do the work with and without the ball. We always look for good characters and players who will fit in the locker room.  He is a good cultural fit and a high-character person that should translate his experiences and skills to MLS.”

After helping Rotherham United earn promotion from League One in 2020, Crooks joined Middlesbrough in July of 2021 and immediately logged three goals with six assists in his first season in the EFL Championship. The fan-favorite nicknamed “Tree” since his youth has totaled 56 goals with 22 assists in 115 appearances for Middlesbrough will depart Teesside immediately, with his family to follow this summer.

“I’m quite excited to make this move, very much the right time and right fit for me,” said Crooks, just a few days after RSL added another European transfer – former Greece youth international Alex Katranis – to the 2024 roster as an outside back. “In speaking to Kurt and the manager while in Portugal, they showed me how we want to play – it's pretty similar to our style at Middlesbrough. These are exciting times for MLS, I feel like the League's really growing now, with the World Cup coming over here in a couple of years' time. There's respect for football/soccer in America at the minute. I'm really looking forward to being a part of it and hopefully I can show everyone what I can do.”

“RSL is obviously a tight-knit club. Really close together, similar to what I've had in the past. I've been at smaller clubs in big leagues with maybe bigger names, but the cohesion of the players and the teamwork that you put together can sometimes contribute to more than just singular talents. Which is probably something that's been a big part of my resume in the past. MLS is getting a bigger name and a better reputation. Obviously with the likes of Messi and what have you coming over, that's really enhanced the sport over here. I'm just looking forward to it. I wouldn't say I'm a Salt Lake or an RSL professor just yet, but I'm looking forward to getting to know more. That’s what I’m coming over for.” 

Crooks will wear the No. 25 jersey with RSL, the same as he did with Middlesbrough. Emeka Eneli will move to No. 14 with the transfer, while first-round MLS SuperDraft pick Matthew Bell will don No. 12.