FOR Jeremy Sarmiento, the early days of his time at Middlesbrough were "hard".
He was thrilled to have joined Boro but arrived in the middle of a season and on the back of a spell in Italy where he hardly played.
The winger had spent the first half of last season on loan at Cremonese in Serie A but only made seven appearances, the last of which came in early November, meaning that by the time he arrived at the Riverside he hadn't kicked a ball competitively for more than two months.
Unsurprisingly lacking match sharpness, it was something of a shock to the system when he was then thrust into the Championship with little time to adapt. Yes, he knows the division well having previously spent time on loan at West Brom, Ipswich and Burnley, but he still had to adjust to Kim Hellberg's demands and playing style on the job.
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“It was difficult," admits the 24-year-old.
"I spent my first half of the season in Italy, and over there I basically didn't play much. When I did, I played out of position, so coming in here was tough and I was a bit slow to get ready fitness wise and to adapt again.
"But the confidence was there from the staff, from the coach, from the players, which made me feel good."
Joining a new club in the middle of a season can be difficult enough even if you're fit, sharp and have been playing in the same division. Sarmiento's close friend Morgan Whittaker is proof of that.
The forward struggled in his early months at the Riverside after joining from Plymouth in the January of 2025, but after a full pre-season ended last campaign with 21 goal involvements - a tally only bettered by two players in the Championship.
“It is hard, you’re going into a new environment in the middle of a season off the back of not playing much," said Sarmiento.
"The games come so thick and fast, so it can be hard to adjust. I’ve been here before in the Championship though, so I know what it’s all about.
"I just need to keep my feet on the floor, keep working hard and hopefully I can now show what I can do.
"This feels like a fresh start for me. It feels good to feel like I’m somewhere I can call home, somewhere I feel welcome. I’m excited for the season ahead."
The early signs have been promising. Sarmiento did well in the Carabao Cup victory over Wrexham, and although he dropped to the bench for the Championship opener against Lincoln, he made a difference when he was introduced in the second half as Hellberg's side dug deep to win 2-1.
Sarmiento has spent recent years out on various loan spells, knowing his stays were temporary. Now, at Boro, with his loan deal turning permanent at the start of the summer, he feels at home, and he believes that will help him on the pitch this term.
“One hundred per cent, this feels like a big season for me," he said.
"It's my first pre-season elsewhere, which is really important for me. I've had all my pre-seasons in Brighton, so to have a fresh, proper start somewhere where I feel at home, that means a lot to me.
"As a player, sometimes a different environment is what you need. My hope is to come here and prove myself and put a smile on everyone's faces and just do the best I can."
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