Middlesbrough have licked their wounds and are looking ahead to the 2026/27 Championship season.
Kim Hellberg saw his side’s automatic promotion push run out of steam last term, but Boro still managed to secure a spot in the top six.
They were beaten by Southampton at the semi-final stage of the play-offs before a dramatic reprieve sent them to the final at Wembley.
Hull City were the victors under the famous arch, defeating Hellberg’s side 1-0 with a late winner from Oli McBurnie.
Post-match, Hellberg said: “How we have played football, how we have performed, how we have strengthened the bond together, how we have fought together, how we have been playing the way we play - there's a lot of things that have been very good.
“But at the end of the day, we were very close, both in the league for automatic and here. But we haven't been good enough, and that's what we have to try to be next year."
Here are 22 free agents Middlesbrough could target to bolster their ranks for the gruelling Championship campaign ahead.
1. Adam Webster
Brighton & Hove Albion have parted with the 31-year-old centre-back after seven years at the club. | Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
2. Jairo Riedewald
Sheffield United looked set to hand the 29-year-old midfielder another year, but he did not make their list of retained players. | Harriet Massey/Getty Images
3. Dennis Cirkin
Sunderland have confirmed the 24-year-old left-back is free to seek pastures new. | Matt McNulty/Getty Images
4. Matt Doherty
Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced the departure of the 34-year-old right-back. | Brett Patzke - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images