What Michael Carrick told Aidan Morris in 45-minute Middlesbrough transfer call

AIDAN Morris believes he's the "perfect fit" to play for Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough and says he wants to make history at the Riverside.

Morris's move from Columbus Crew to Boro was confirmed at the end of last week, with the 22-year-old signing a four-year deal on Teesside.

He's long known about the transfer interest, with Boro's head of recruitment Chris Jones having watched the midfielder extensively in the MLS in recent months.

And although it was a "slow process" to get the deal done, he's delighted to be a Boro player, though admits it's slightly "surreal" being coached by Carrick - a player he grew up watching and admiring.

“I had a Zoom call with him, I think around 30-45 minutes and it was great," said Morris of his first chat with his new boss.

"He gave me the foundation of how they play, the group of guys we have and also just the life around the club as well.

"It gave me the confidence in coming here and made my decision easier.

"I grew up watching (Manchester) United games. I remember my dad would pull me out of school to watch the famous Champions League games against Barcelona and games like those, so it’s a bit surreal to me to now have him as my coach.

"He was an unbelievable player and I’m excited to learn from him. It’s a perfect fit for me because he was a midfielder who controlled the rhythm and the tempo of a game and was so consistent. He was all the things that I strive to be great at. It will be cool to work with him."

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Morris joins Boro having established himself as one of the leading lights in the MLS, where he caught the eye of Boro's recruitment team.

"Chris [Jones] came to scout me in the first game of the season this year and since then it’s kind of been a slow process," he explained.

"But I’m happy to be here now and part of the team, and everyone has been very welcoming."

Morris, a five-time USA international, was a favourite with supporters at Columbus Crew and given an emotional send-off before leaving. Now, he hopes to build a similarly strong connection with Boro's fans.

“For sure, that’s the goal," he told the club website.

"Hopefully that comes naturally through my play and I don’t have to talk too much. I just want to show it all out there on the field. I’m a very passionate player and love to give it my all. I hate to lose as well, so hopefully I can help bring good things to this club."

What he wants to achieve most of all is promotion.

He says: “I want to be in the Prem. I want to bring this team the success it deserves.

"Michael and the team play such a beautiful style of football that I’ve been able to learn a bit about over these past couple of weeks. So I want to give this club the recognition it deserves and bring it to the Premier League.

"They’ve obviously been in the Championship for the last few years, but it’s a club with great history and I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t pleased with the club. I’m happy to be here and want to make some history for myself here."