Reece Hannam came in the start of the 2023-4 season – but was heading out the exit door just five-and-a-half months later. The reason we signed him ahead of our first League One campaign in nearly a decade was to provide us with extra strength at the back. And, with the left back released by Crystal Palace that summer, boss Steve Evans decided it was a solid move. Not all transfers work out, however, and Hannam’s game time at the Lamex was restricted. With three starts and four sub appearances to his name, he left the club by mutual consent at the end of the winter transfer window.

Hannam is certainly no slouch. He spent three years with the Eagles; picking up their U23 Player of the Year award in 2021. So, there is certainly something about him – and something that appealed hugely to the boss here at the Lamex. “The kid came in for pre-season and has given it everything in the last six weeks,” Evans explained. “He has earned his contract and gets a wonderful opportunity to progress his career after a good period at Crystal Palace.”

Reece Hannam: Before Boro’

Hopes were high for Hannam at Selhurst Park. In some quarters, he was compared to Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back. But, aside from his exploits in the U23 side, he couldn’t quite transition to the Eagles’ first team. In search of first team experience, summer 2022 saw him move to Bromley on loan. Prior to his time at Palace, Hannam also spent a large chunk of his youth on the books of West Ham United. It could be Boro’, however, where the player truly makes his name.