USMNT goalkeeper Zack Steffen joins Middlesbrough on season-long loan

As James Olley noted for ESPN, United States Men's National Team goalkeeper Matt Turner recently insisted that what had been an anticipated move to Premier League club Arsenal from the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer would not jeopardize his spot in the national team's starting lineup for the fall World Cup even though Aaron Ramsdale is cemented as the Gunners' first-choice option at the position. 

Fellow American goalkeeper Zack Steffen put pen to paper on a new deal with reigning Premier League champions Manchester City last November but isn't taking any such chances as it pertains to his national-team status. 

As explained by an ESPN piece, Steffen has officially joined Championship side Middlesbrough on a season-long loan to secure as much first-team football as possible ahead of the World Cup. With City, Steffen would've again served as the primary backup to Ederson.

"We knew we had to improve the goalkeeping department. We brought in Liam Roberts and now we’re adding Zack who has just signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Man City," Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder said for a club statement. "Man City don’t hand out four-and-a-half-year contracts if they don’t think anything of them.

"Everyone knows his situation, he needed to play because of the World Cup. He had an agreement with Man City, but he could have easily stayed there and sat comfortably as their number two. He wanted to go out and he’s agreed to come here."

Ethan Horvath, on loan with Luton Town from Nottingham Forest, is also on track to compete for the USMNT starting gig along with Steffen and Turner.