Kim Hellberg Sends Firm Message on Adilson Malanda’s Value to Middlesbrough
MIDDLESBROUGH – With winter settling over Teesside and the Championship promotion race intensifying, Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has issued a firm and measured message on new signing Adilson Malanda. Speaking ahead of Boro’s meeting with Hull City, the Swede underlined the French defender’s importance while stressing that his impact must be allowed to develop gradually.
Hellberg, appointed in late November following Rob Edwards’ sudden exit to Wolves, has quickly stamped his authority on the squad. Under his guidance, Boro sit second after 18 matches—ten points behind Coventry City but still in the frame for automatic promotion. The foundations, however, are far from perfect. A mounting injury list including Luke Ayling, Dael Fry, George Edmundson, and Darragh Lenihan has left the defence stretched, with recent performances highlighting the need for stability.
That responsibility will soon fall to Malanda, one of the club’s most significant summer signings. The 24-year-old arrived from Charlotte FC in August for £6 million, signing a five-and-a-half-year deal before returning to the MLS side on loan to complete their campaign. With Charlotte’s season now over, Malanda has finally joined his new teammates on Teesside, fresh from a short break to recharge after a demanding year.
Although he has yet to train fully with the squad, Hellberg has already been impressed. “From the minute he walked in, you can see the quality,” he said. “He’s calm, strong, composed. I’ve watched plenty of his games, and he’s the type of defender who can influence matches.”
Malanda’s 2025 MLS numbers back that up. In 28 appearances, he helped secure 12 clean sheets, committed just over one foul per match, and maintained an 87% passing accuracy—attributes that align well with Hellberg’s possession-based approach. “He’s more than a stopper,” the head coach explained. “He progresses the ball, reads the game, and brings a presence we’ve been missing.”
Still, Hellberg urged patience. EFL regulations prevent Malanda from being registered until January, meaning he must wait for his debut. His early sessions have focused on individual conditioning, with Hellberg determined to avoid rushing him. “The Championship is a different tempo,” he said. “We want him ready for the long term, not just to fill a gap.”
The call for calm fits the broader picture of a squad in transition. Edwards’ mid-season departure left Hellberg to take charge of a team built under a different manager, and while the attack—led by Emmanuel Latte Lath and Finn Azaz—has flourished, defensive inconsistencies have held Boro back. Hellberg has thrown himself into reshaping the group, particularly through one-on-one tactical work, and will soon discuss January plans with the club hierarchy. While reinforcements may be considered, Malanda remains the centrepiece.
Malanda’s rise has been a compelling one. Raised in the Paris suburbs, he developed through French youth football before moving to the U.S. in 2023. His strong performances for Charlotte—highlighted by standout aerial numbers and duel success—made him a sought-after prospect, with Middlesbrough beating several Championship clubs to secure him. Local reporters have described him as a physically dominant defender with promising distribution, and his arrival is seen as timely given the club’s injury crisis.
Despite the excitement, Malanda has remained grounded, posting on club media about his eagerness to get started and jokingly warning a former teammate ahead of Boro’s New Year’s Day meeting with Derby. He has cited players like Virgil van Dijk as inspirations, aiming to blend aggression with calm defending.
As Boro navigate a demanding festive schedule, Hellberg views Malanda not only as a defensive reinforcement but as a symbol of the club’s direction. “He’s important because he represents what we’re building,” Hellberg said. “Promotion, identity, progress. But we have to give him the time to become the player we know he can be.”
Supporters, long starved of tangible success since the 2004 League Cup win, have already embraced the new arrival. Whether Malanda can supply the defensive solidity to push Boro over the line remains to be seen, but Hellberg’s belief is unwavering. His message is clear: Malanda’s influence will come—so long as patience leads the way.