Cliftonville have confirmed the loan signing of Ollie Samuels from Middlesbrough – with the defender making a first club outing during Tuesday’s friendly win over Warrenpoint Town.

Samuels has spent more than a decade on Middlesbrough’s books and was handed his first professional contract by Michael Carrick last year – the current Manchester United chief spent almost three years in charge of the Championship club before leaving in June 2025.

The 20-year-old made 20 appearances in Premier League 2 last season, scoring twice, and has played 40 times in total in the competition.

Samuels also featured in the National League Cup, getting an opportunity to come up against senior opposition in Boston United, FC Halifax, Gateshead and Scunthorpe.

placeholder image — Cliftonville have signed Ollie Samuels on loan from Middlesbrough. (Photo by Cliftonville FC)

A temporary switch to Solitude marks Samuels’ first loan move with the left-back becoming Jim Magilton’s eighth new summer signing.

Samuels has now joined Alex Bannon, Dean McMaster, Ben Quinn, Kyle McClelland, Aaron Wightman, Dan O’Connor and Joel Thompson at the North Belfast club as they prepare to begin their Premiership campaign against Crusaders on August 7.

He started in Tuesday’s 2-1 pre-season friendly win at home to Championship outfit Warrenpoint – Rory Hale and Bayo Fapetu struck after former Cliftonville striker Adam Carroll had scored for the visitors.