Getting To Know: Hayden Hackney

Everton have confirmed the signing of midfielder Hayden Hackney on an undisclosed fee from Middlesbrough.

The England-Under-21s international – 2025/26’s Championship Player of the Season – arrives on Merseyside with plenty of potential and a wealth of experience in the EFL.

Find out more about Hackney by reading our profile below…

Yorkshire Lad

Hackney – who recently celebrated his 24^th birthday – was born in Redcar, a coastal town in North Yorkshire, England. 

Championship Player Of The Season

Last season was an outstanding term for Hackney, who was named Championship Player of the Season following a breakout campaign.

He made 38 Championship appearances, contributing five goals and seven assists while helping to guide Middlesbrough to the division’s play-off final.

Football Hero & Hobbies

Hackney describes legendary Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo as his football hero.

Playing golf is his favourite activity outside of football.

Breaking Through At Boro

His journey into elite football began when he joined Middlesbrough’s academy at under-10s level.

Showcasing his talent while progressing through the ranks, Hackney signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club in 2019.

During the 2021/22 season, he gained valuable experience while on loan at Scunthorpe United, making 28 League Two appearances.

Upon returning to Boro, he earned the trust of manager Michael Carrick in late 2022, establishing himself as a regular for the campaign.

He made 32 starts in 34 Championship appearances that term, while also registering six goal contributions.

Hackney won Middlesbrough’s Young Player of the Season for 2022/23 and was shortlisted for the Championship’s Young Player of the Season.

Hackney captained the club for the first time in a 1–0 home defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on 6 January 2024.

England & Scotland 

Hackney holds dual eligibility to represent both England and Scotland internationally.

Qualifying for the Tartan Army through his mother born in Edinburgh, he made two appearances for Scotland Under-21s in late 2022.

However, Hackney chose to switch his allegiance back to his birth country, joining the England Under-21s setup in September 2023.

He became a frequent starter for the Young Lions and has since been capped on 13 occasions.

Hackney was picked in Lee Carsley’s squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, where England lifted the trophy. 

Malleable In The Midfield 

Hackney operates primarily as a central or defensive midfielder, but often pushes forward to create a threat in and around the opposition penalty area.

Across all competitions last season, 25 of his outings were from a deep-lying role, while in 17 matches he occupied the box-to-box midfielder position.