The 2017-18 campaign delivered a strong promotion challenge for Middlesbrough, with The Boro finishing 5th in the Championship and securing a play-off spot on their immediate return from the Premier League. Leading the charge was club-record signing Britt Assombalonga, whose 15 goals proved vital in a campaign built on the mid-season arrival of manager Tony Pulis and the exhilarating breakout form of winger Adama Traoré. Though the play-off dream ultimately ended in the semi-finals, it was a pivotal year that marked the club's strong re-establishment in the second tier and remains a defining chapter in The Boro's modern history.