Maximilian Arfsten

Solid contributorMiddlesbrough · 25 yrsStarterNew signing

3.9%

Ratingi

41.6

15.3%

Seasoni

Valuei

ratings updated 22 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameMaximilian Arfsten

PositionAttacking midfielder

NationalityUSA

Age25

Date of birth19 Apr 2001

BirthplaceFresno

Height185 cm

Shirt number#27

ClubMiddlesbrough

More about M. Arfsten →

Attacking midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

Appearances

Goals

Assists

1489

Minutes

Domestic-league season · Columbus Crew.

Also this season

Earlier this season at Columbus Crew — Leagues Cup: 3 apps, 2g 0a, 267 min

Earlier this season at Columbus Crew — CONCACAF Champions League: 2 apps, 0g 0a, 116 min

The headline Season rating covers his time at Middlesbrough; availability counts only fixtures while in this squad.

Performance data · by competition

Competition	Apps	G	A	Min	Match
Major League Soccerat Columbus Crew	15	4	4	1299	7.05

Career

Full career & schedule →

Leagues Cup×2MLS×2MLS All-Star×2

Arfsten's current-season form is down 12% on last season (Season 49→43), while his Rating climbed 46→48. His peak season for form remains 2025/26 (Season 49).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Middlesbrough · 11th	2	0	0	6.75	48	42
2026/27	Columbus Crew · 8th	17	4	4	7.03	46	38
2025/26	Columbus Crew · 8th	31	5	6	7.41	46	49
2024/25	Columbus Crew · 2nd	33	5	4	7.09	47	27
2023/24	Columbus Crew · 3rd	13	3	2	6.91	43	9
2022/23	The Town	24	9	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 1 youth-team spell in the full career.

USA · international

Side	Apps	G
USA	20	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Solid contributorAttacking midfielder

M. Arfsten is a 25-year-old attacking midfielder at Middlesbrough, rated 48 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 88th of 171 on scout potential in the Championship. In his prime years, he has been an ever-present this season (97.3% of available minutes). He brings 0.48 goal contributions per 90 (0.24 goals, 0.24 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Arfsten.

Judged on this season alone, Arfsten graded 43 — a strong campaign that ranks top 30% of the 10 attacking midfielders in the Championship, on 4 goals and 4 assists in 17 appearances (0.484 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 49 → 43). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2025/26.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 48, 5th of 10 of the 10 attacking midfielders in the Championship. At 25 Arfsten is in his prime years, and a market index of 33 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2025/26 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26

Current potential5th of 10 attacking midfielders · Championship Current seasonTop 30% attacking midfielders · Championship 3rd-best attacking midfielder in the Championship 88th in the Championship · potential 5th-highest potential attacking midfielder in the Championship

Ratingi

5th of 10 attacking midfielders

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

97.3%

Minutes

near ever-present

0.48

Goal contrib / 90

productive for the role

Output in context · Middlesbrough finished 11th of 24 · a mid-table side

Apps

Goals

Assists

G+A

0.24

Goals / app

4 goals in 17 appearances (0.24 per game) — light end product the role wants to see climb. He also laid on 4 assists, so the all-round involvement reads 8 goal contributions (0.47 per appearance).

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 97.3% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Final-third output. 0.48 goal contributions per 90 (0.24 goals, 0.24 assists) — productive for the role.

Watch points

Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 48, Arfsten carries the 5th-highest potential of the attacking midfielders in the Championship of 10. In the final third he profiles as a productive contributor (0.48 goal contributions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %97.3%

Available fixtures17 of 2

Goals / 900.242

Assists / 900.242

Goal contribution / 900.484

Defensive actions / 902.418

Player flow

Goal involvements8

Shot conversion %40

Shot accuracy %52.6

Pass accuracy %79

Dribble success %58.9

Cards / 900.181

Foul involvement / 902.297

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~33), then tapers with age. At 25, Arfsten sits on 33, at or near its peak. The blue line is Arfsten's projected Rating — 48 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among attacking midfielders in the Championship with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals4

Shots on target10

Shots19

Passing

Assists4

Chances created25—

Passes652—

Pass accuracy79%

Possession

Successful dribbles43

Dribble success58.9%—

Duels won106—

Duels won %53%—

Fouls won19—

Penalties won1—

Defending

Tackles32

Interceptions7

Blocks1

Fouls committed19—

Penalties conceded1—

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3

Red cards0

Transfer history

MiddlesbroughAug 2026 – now

Columbus CrewFeb 2023 – Aug 2026

San Jose Earthquakesuntil Feb 2023

About M. Arfsten

Maximilian Arfsten is a 25-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Middlesbrough, born on April 19, 2001 in Fresno, standing 185 cm tall. He is from USA. Middlesbrough currently sit 11th of 24 in the Championship.

This season

In the current season, M. Arfsten has made 17 appearances with 4 goals and 4 assists across 1,489 minutes, averaging a 7.01 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 3 yellow cards.

When M. Arfsten plays, Middlesbrough's record this season is 5W-4D-8L — and his match ratings average 6.94 at home against 7.13 on the road.

Recent matches

July 25, 2026: 2-1 win at home vs FC Cincinnati (90 minutes, 7.5 rating)
July 22, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs New York City FC (100 minutes, 6.2 rating)
May 24, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Atlanta United FC (69 minutes, 7 rating)
May 16, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Philadelphia Union (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
May 13, 2026: 2-3 loss away at New York Red Bulls (90 minutes, 1 goal, 7.5 rating)
May 10, 2026: 0-3 loss away at New York City FC (90 minutes, 6 rating)
May 2, 2026: 2-3 loss at home vs Minnesota United FC (90 minutes, 1 assist, 6.6 rating)
April 25, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Philadelphia Union (81 minutes, 1 goal, 8 rating)
April 22, 2026: 2-1 win at home vs Los Angeles Galaxy (90 minutes, 1 assist, 7.2 rating)
April 18, 2026: 1-2 loss away at New England Revolution (90 minutes, 1 goal, 7.2 rating)

M. Arfsten's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Middlesbrough face West Brom at home in the Championship.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Arfsten at 48 with a Season form score of 43, ranking 88th of 171 attacking midfielders in the Championship. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 6 career titles — among them the MLS All-Star and the Leagues Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 5 recorded seasons, M. Arfsten has totalled 121 club appearances with 26 goals and 16 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2024/25, with 33 appearances for Columbus Crew.

M. Arfsten's career has also included time at Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes.

On the international stage, M. Arfsten has represented USA — 20 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Also this season

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Middlesbrough finished 11th of 24 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points