Harrogate Town bring in England and Ghana midfielder Brayden Johnson from Boro U21 on loan

Harrogate Town have signed 20-year-old England and Ghana midfielder Brayden Johnson from Boro U21 on loan, adding the central midfielder to their National League squad until 31 May 2027.

Johnson made the move on 20 August 2026, switching from Middlesbrough’s under-21 side after spending the previous campaign with temporary spells at Kidderminster and Gateshead. The transfer is a further step in a series of loans during the early stages of his senior career.

The right-footed midfielder has already made one appearance in the National League Cup for Harrogate this season. He featured for Boro U21 in Premier League 2 before moving to a higher-level senior competition with Kidderminster in March 2026.

Johnson returned to Boro U21 at the end of that loan on 31 May, having previously spent part of the 2024-25 campaign with Gateshead. He joined Gateshead from Boro U21 in March 2025 and went back to the club at the end of the season.

His path into the Middlesbrough under-21 setup followed a spell at Eastbourne, which began in July 2024. Before that, he had been with Eastbourne Borough’s under-18 team.

The move gives Harrogate a young central midfield option with experience of both academy football and senior loan spells. Johnson’s arrival also continues his progression through the English football system, with Harrogate becoming his latest club after appearances for Kidderminster and Gateshead.

Harrogate compete in the National League, while Boro U21 play in Premier League 2, meaning Johnson has moved from an under-21 competition into a senior league environment. His loan agreement with Harrogate runs through the end of the 2026-27 season.

Johnson is registered with Harrogate until 31 May 2027, when the loan is scheduled to end and he is due to return to Boro U21.