European football might not be high in the thoughts of Boro fans just now, as they chase a return to the Premier League. But the club has a connection to some highly-anticipated games in Europe. Boro have had many talented players over the years and three former stars are set to be involved in the action this week.
Morgan Rogers – Aston Villa
Rogers left Middlesbrough in January 2024 to join Aston Villa. Since then, he has become a gem to watch and a fans’ favourite. In his first season, he made 11 appearances for the club, with three of them coming off the bench, scoring three goals and getting a single assist. He then played another two seasons with a total of 78 appearances, 19 goals, and 16 assists, showing some very impressive form. Rogers made 12 appearances in last year’s Champions League, scoring four and getting three assists. His Villa side got knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final 5–4 on aggregate, despite Villa beating the eventual winners in the second leg. Now Rogers is playing in the Europa League, where he has appeared nine times, scoring one goal, and getting two assists. Villa are 1-0 up against Lille, with the second leg to be played on Thursday (March 19).
Marten de Roon – Atalanta
Marten de Roon left Middlesbrough in August 2017, returning to his Italian side, Atalanta, for £11.7 million after playing one season with Boro in the Premier League. He scored five goals in a relegation campaign. He has played over 331 games for Atalanta in Serie A, scoring 20 goals and getting 20 assists. He won the Europa League in 2023/2024, where he captained the team to their first major European title. He is also the first foreign player to reach 250 matches for Atalanta. Right now, he is captaining Atalanta in the Champions League with two assists to his name and playing in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, they are losing 6-1 and face a near impossible task away at Bayern in the second leg on Wednesday (March 18).
Djed Spence – Tottenham Hotspur
Djed Spence left Boro in July 2022 to sign for Tottenham in a deal worth up to £20 million. He only managed to play a few games before being loaned out to a few clubs, including Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa, before slowly being integrated as a starter for the club. Altogether, he has played 52 matches, 13 coming off the bench. For Tottenham, he has scored one goal and has two assists. In the 2024/25 season, he won the Europa League with Spurs to help end their 17-year trophy drought. He was also part of the 2025 UEFA Super Cup squad, where Tottenham lost against Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, after blowing a 2-0 lead with just five minutes left. Spence is now playing with Tottenham in the Champions League. He has played nine games and faces Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 second leg. Spurs face a difficult task, trailing 5-2 from the away leg, with the second leg taking place on Wednesday (March 18).
