Tigers sign midfielder Crooks from Real Salt Lake

‘I’LL ALWAYS GIVE 100 PER CENT’: New signing Matt Crooks

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Hull City have signed versatile midfielder Matt Crooks from Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake.

The 30-year-old becomes the Tigers’ first addition of the January transfer window after agreeing a two-and-a-half-year deal at the MKM Stadium, with a club option of a further 12 months.

The towering 6ft 4ns midfielder, who can also be deployed up front, made 33 appearances in the United States after arriving in Utah last February, helping RSL qualify for the MLS Cup play-offs. Before then, Leeds-born Crooks spent almost three years at Middlesbrough, becoming a fans’ favourite after scoring 23 goals and adding 15 assists in 115 outings.

Hitting double figures in 2021/22, he provided 13 goal contributions as Boro reached the 2022/23 Championship play-offs before swapping Teesside for Stateside midway through last season.

An experienced EFL campaigner, Crooks has accumulated over 350 career appearances since making his first-team debut for Halifax Town in 2012, representing 11 different clubs.

Notable achievements include two PFA Team of the Year inclusions, first with League Two Accrington Stanley in 2015/16 and then at Rotherham United in 2019/20.

He earned a League One runners-up medal with the Millers that season and contributed 21 goals in 97 games in South Yorkshire, with 56 of those appearances coming in the second tier.

The former Manchester United youngster has also enjoyed spells with Huddersfield Town, Scottish giants Rangers, Scunthorpe United and Northampton Town, for whom he netted 10 goals in 57 matches.

Crooks said: “I’m buzzing to finally get it done and excited to get started.

“I said to my agent I wanted to explore coming back to England and playing over here. I got a phone call from Jared [Dublin, sporting director] and that’s how it started.

“I’m grateful to Salt Lake for the experience and what they were able to give me; it was something I always wanted to do as a kid and that’s one thing ticked off that I always wanted to do.

“I’m thankful I went over but also happy to be here. I learned a lot about myself and I’m trying to be a leader.

“The club’s got ambition, the chairman’s got ambition. Although it’s been a difficult start to the season for the lads, I’m sure we can push on and I’m here to help the best way I can.

“I’m looking forward to it and I’ll always give 100 per cent for the club while I’ve got the shirt on.”