Middlesbrough once brought in a player who had commanded a £25 million transfer fee only a few years earlier, with him arriving at the Riverside in 2021.
The winger had joined Everton from Crystal Palace in 2016 after establishing himself as a dangerous Premier League attacker. Everton reportedly paid around £25 million for his services after Bolasie helped Palace finish 15th in the Premier League.
He had played an important role in Palace’s promotion to the top flight in 2013 and went on to record nine goals and 13 assists across three Premier League seasons before making the move to Goodison Park.
He arrived at Everton with only a couple of weeks remaining in the summer transfer window, but his first season was severely disrupted by injury.
He made just 13 Premier League appearances during that campaign, scoring once and registering four assists. His only league goal came in a 2-1 defeat against Burnley.
Things improved slightly the following season, as Bolasie returned to action after spending roughly a year recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in December. However, he managed only one additional goal and failed to register an assist in 16 Premier League appearances during the second half of the 2017/18 campaign.
That difficult period ultimately marked the beginning of the end of his Everton career.
Loan Spells Eventually Led Bolasie to Middlesbrough
Following his struggles at Everton, Bolasie embarked on several loan spells, representing clubs including Anderlecht, Aston Villa and Sporting CP.
His journey eventually brought him back to English football and Middlesbrough in January 2021.
Boro were sitting seventh in the Championship when Bolasie arrived, just three points outside the playoff places. New manager Neil Warnock immediately handed him a starting role, with the winger making his debut in a goalless draw against Norwich City.
Bolasie had to wait until April 5 to score his first Middlesbrough goal, finding the net in a 1-1 draw with Watford.
He went on to score against QPR and Sheffield Wednesday, while also providing an assist during the victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Despite Bolasie’s contributions, Middlesbrough ultimately slipped to 10th and finished 13 points away from the playoff positions.
What Happened After Middlesbrough?
When Bolasie returned to Everton, Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that the winger was not part of his first-team plans. That eventually brought his time at Goodison Park to an end.
Bolasie subsequently moved abroad, joining Turkish side Caykur Rizespor before eventually returning to England with Swansea City in November 2023.
His stay in Wales was brief. He made only 10 appearances before his short-term contract expired, with the club unable to reach an agreement over an extension.
Bolasie Finds New Life in Brazil
After leaving Swansea, Bolasie made the unexpected decision to continue his career in Brazilian football.
He initially joined Criciúma, where he produced eight goals and four assists in 34 league appearances. He later represented Cruzeiro and Chapecoense, adding another 35 Série A appearances across those two spells.
Although Bolasie struggled to maintain consistency during the latter stages of his time in England, his move to Brazil provided a positive twist to the final chapter of his career.
The former £25 million Everton signing may not have enjoyed the success many expected at Goodison Park, but his performances in Brazil have allowed him to finish his career on a much more encouraging note.
