went on to score four more goals against Queens Park Rangers, a brace against Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City. On 7 May, he was part of the Middlesbrough side that won promotion to the Premier League with a man of the match performance in a 1–1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, despite sustaining an injury following a challenge by Dale Stephens. After leaving Southampton, Ramírez re-joined Middlesbrough, signing a three-year contract on 22 July 2016. Upon joining the club, he stated that it was the club's supporters, who played a role in his return to the club. Ramírez's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the opening game of the season, where he set up a goal for Álvaro Negredo to put the hosts ahead in a 1–1 home draw against Stoke City. After reappearing for the side on a permanent basis, Ramírez continued to establish himself in the first team, pushing out Stewart Downing. However, he faced criticism over "his alarming loss of form" in a number of matches. He scored his first goal for the side on 29 October 2016, in a 2–0 win over Bournemouth. The goal won BBC Goal of the Month in October. After serving a suspension for receiving a yellow card during the match against Bournemouth, Ramírez then scored against his former club, Hull City, in a 1–0 win on 5 December 2016. In the January transfer window, Leicester City had a bid rejected for Ramírez by the club, leading him to go on a transfer request. But after the transfer window was closed by the end of January, the club managed to keep him. However, as the 2016–17 season began, Ramírez found himself out of the first team with injuries, suspension, competitions and Aitor Karanka's sacking. Following Middlesbrough's relegation in the Premier League at the end of the 2016–17 season, Ramírez made a total of 26 appearances, scoring twice. Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Ramírez was linked with a possible move away from the club to Benfica and Real Betis among interested. Amid Ramírez's uncertain future, manager Garry Monk called him up in the club's pre-season tour and featured him in the friendly match against Oxford United. Although Monk praised Ramírez' return, his appearance against Augsburg on 29 July 2017 resulted in boos and jeers from Middlesbrough supporters, leading to accusations from club legend Bernie Slaven