A former Sunderland and Derby County player reacts to “abuse” from Middlesbrough supporters following a botched £5 million transfer deal.

In 2018, the former Sunderland striker nearly joined

Middlesbrough but chose Derby County instead.
Martyn Waghorn, a former Sunderland striker, has thought back on his 2018

transfer to Derby County and the “abuse” he endured from Middlesbrough supporters afterward.

The 35-year-old attacker, who was born in South Shields, recently sat down with

The Echo for a number of exclusive pieces that reflect on his football career. Waghorn,

a boyhood Sunderland supporter, completed the club’s academy system and made his

first team debut in 2007 at the age of 17, playing left midfield in a 4-0 loss to Sir

Middlesbrough, then managed by Tony Pulis, and Frank Lampard’s Derby County came

in for the goal-getter, leaving Waghorn with a big decision to make.

The former England youth international eventually opted for a move to

Pride Park rather than Sunderland’s North East rivals, creating some needle from Boro

fans towards the player over the years. The fee was announced as undisclosed but many

have since noted the deal to be around the £5million mark.

“I had my year at Ipswich, and it was before I was signing for Derby,”

Waghorn said when asked about the failed move to Middlesbrough. “I spoke to

Tony Pulis at the time. Everything was kind of agreed, really, and then Derby were in as well.

So, I believe it was Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Derby were kind of all in and around it,

and then I just chose Derby at the end of the day.