Boro’ dipped into the loan market once more in August 2024 to strengthen our League One hopes; Eli King arriving from Cardiff City on a season-long loan. The central defensive position was one that needed a bit of a bolstering and, in King, we had our man. Indeed, fan opinions from those down in south Wales suggested we’d got onto one; the idea being that this young midfielder was seen as a potential first team prospect. Yet, that wasn’t the case. And it’d be to our benefit; an enticing opportunity for the player to stamp his mark on the third tier.

Eli King: Before Boro’

King is a product of the Bluebirds’ academy; turning pro and making his senior debut in 2021. But it wasn’t a simple case of taking the first team by storm and it’d take opportunities out on loan to make his name. First came Crewe Alexandra in 2022, then came Morecambe in 2023. After Cardiff called him back in January 2024, King went on loan again; taking his place in the Ross County line-up for the rest of the 2023-4 campaign. In all of his loan spells away from the Cardiff City Stadium, King was a notable performer. And that gave hope to Boro’ fans when he arrived here.

In addition to club outings, King is a Wales U17 and U21 international.