Middlesbrough’s proposed move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Ashley Phillips has reportedly been placed on pause despite significant progress being made towards a permanent transfer.
The Imps’ first Championship opponents had been working on a deal for the 21-year-old centre-back, who spent last season on loan at Stoke City. An initial fee of around £7 million had reportedly been agreed with Tottenham, while Middlesbrough were also prepared to accept a number of potential add-ons requested by the Premier League club.
Phillips had even visited Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe Park training ground towards the end of last week, raising expectations that an agreement could be completed over the weekend. However, according to The Northern Echo, discussions have now temporarily stalled with several aspects of the proposed deal still requiring agreement.
Importantly for Middlesbrough, the transfer has not collapsed. Further discussions are expected between Boro, Tottenham and Phillips’ representatives, although all parties are understood to be assessing their options before deciding whether to proceed.
That leaves Kim Hellberg waiting to discover whether another significant addition can be made to his squad. The Swedish head coach remains in charge at the Riverside Stadium after taking over from Rob Edwards during the 2025/26 campaign.
Phillips would arrive with considerable Championship experience despite his relatively young age. The Manchester-born defender developed through Blackburn Rovers’ academy and made his senior debut for the Lancashire club in 2022.
Tottenham activated a £2 million release clause to sign him in August 2023, but his opportunities have subsequently come primarily through loan spells in the second tier. He spent the second half of the 2023/24 season with Plymouth Argyle, making 16 appearances as they avoided relegation and being named the club’s Young Player of the Season.
Phillips then joined Stoke City for the 2024/25 campaign before returning to the Potters for a second consecutive season in 2025/26. He established himself as a regular during the latter spell and has accumulated significant senior experience despite being only 21.
A permanent move would therefore represent an opportunity for Tottenham to cash in on a player who has spent much of the last three seasons away from North London, while Middlesbrough would be acquiring a defender who already knows the demands of the Championship.
Phillips could yet become another major addition, but what had appeared to be a rapidly progressing deal is now facing a period of uncertainty. Further talks are expected over the coming days, meaning Middlesbrough’s £7 million pursuit is paused rather than completely abandoned.
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