Middlesbrough FC have signed defender Ashley Phillips from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. The 21-year-old has bolstered Boro's backline and arrives at the Riverside with more than 100 senior appearances already under his belt.
Early Career and Development
Phillips was born in Manchester in June 2005. He caught the attention of scouts while playing as a junior with Curzon Ashton, and joined Blackburn Rovers as a 12-year-old. He progressed through the ranks at Ewood Park and appeared regularly for Blackburn's Under-18s aged 15.
He made his U23s debut the following season before earning recognition at senior level. His first-team debut came in the Carabao Cup in August 2022, when he became the fourth-youngest player in Blackburn's history, aged 17 years and 45 days. A Sky Bet Championship debut followed four days later, and he signed his first professional contract shortly after.
International Experience
Phillips made his England U17s debut in October 2021 and has since represented his country at U18, U19, U20 and U21s level, with his first appearance for the latter coming in September 2025.
Loan Moves and Recent Career
Phillips made 14 appearances for Blackburn's senior team in the 2022/23 season and was named the LFE Championship Apprentice of the Season. His performances attracted the attention of Premier League clubs, and he joined Tottenham in August 2023.
He spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Plymouth Argyle, and was named their Young Player of the Season as he helped them avoid relegation from the Championship. Phillips returned to the second tier in 2024/25 with Stoke City, making 39 appearances in all competitions. He spent another season on loan at Stoke in 2025/26, this time making 44 appearances as he continued to develop.
