Radek Vitek Transfers Permanently from Manchester United to Middlesbrough

Manchester United have finalized the permanent transfer of goalkeeper Radek Vitek to Middlesbrough. The deal is reportedly worth up to £14 million and includes a 35% sell-on clause, matching rights, and a buy-back option for United.

At 22 years old, Vitek impressed last season while on loan at Bristol City in the Championship, keeping 12 clean sheets in 41 matches. His consistent performances attracted attention, ultimately leading to this permanent move as he sought regular first-team football rather than a backup role at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's official statement noted:

"Radek has been a model professional throughout his time with the club and a popular member of our Academy squads. United would like to place on record our thanks to Radek for his time at the club, and wish him all the best in his next step."

Vitek arrived at United in 2020 but never featured in a competitive first-team match. Instead, he gained experience through loans at Accrington Stanley, BW Linz, and most recently Bristol City. Standing 6ft 6in tall, he was part of United’s 2026-27 pre-season squad but preferred a starting spot, making his departure inevitable.

The current goalkeeping order at United is clear: Senne Lammens as first choice, Karl Darlow signed as second, and Tom Heaton as third. Meanwhile, Andre Onana returned to Trabzonspor on loan, and Altay Bayindir moved temporarily to Celta Vigo.

Vitek’s Ambitions at Middlesbrough

"It feels great to be here. This is a new challenge for me and I’m really excited to be a Boro player. The project here is very impressive, because you can clearly see the ambition and where the club wants to go. I’m delighted to now be part of that. The mission is clear: to go to the Premier League. I think everyone at the club has that mindset, and I want the same thing. Now I just can’t wait to get started."

With Vitek now at Middlesbrough, the club hopes he will be a key figure in their Championship promotion push. Observers will watch closely to see how he develops in this crucial phase of his career.