Listowell Lord Hinneh joined Middlesbrough from Ghana's Samba Stars Academy

Listowell Lord Hinneh says he’s on his way to achieving his dream after joining the Middlesbrough academy in January.

Hinneh, 18, joined Boro in the winter transfer window after a successful trial, having previously made five appearances in the Ghanaian Premier League with Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea.

He was spotted by Boro scouts while playing for the Samba Stars Academy, which is part-owned by former West Ham star Michail Antonio.

Since arriving on Teesside, the teenage winger has featured for the under-18 and under-21 sides but has also been spotted in first-team training from time to time. He was also involved recently when Kim Hellberg’s side beat Newcastle United in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break.

And reflecting on his time at Boro so far, the youngster told the BBC: "When I came in January, it was so cold. Experiencing something like that for the first time was tough.

"Moving was a big milestone. It just makes me feel the dreams I've been having, thinking of trying to find myself in Europe to become a professional footballer.

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"I feel the kind of dreams that I want, I'm on the verge. I'm on the way [to] becoming who I wanted to become.

"Back home we've got people you grew up with and you might miss them, but that doesn't kill the dreams I'm here for.

"I'm trying to figure out what the reality is, what the future holds for me and then just chase the dreams."

Hinneh was speaking with the BBC as part of a feature they did on the Samba Stars, with Antonio helping to bring them to England in the summer to play friendlies against English academy teams in the hope of putting their other talents in the face of professional club scouts.

Hinneh went to one game and met with the players in the academy, offering his advice having achieved what they all hope to when signing for Boro.

"[I told them] what you've been dreaming about the future, it starts from here," he said.

"Don't just try, be so passionate. You need to play and enjoy it because you can have the success in whatever you're doing. You have to just put your heart in it."