“It was always going to be Everton”: Hackney signs five-year deal as Moyes lands first summer coup | OneFootball

Photo from evertonfc.com

Everton have completed the signing of Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney for an initial fee of £16.5m.

The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Blues and arrives as the reigning Championship Player of the Season.

Hackney becomes Everton's first major signing of the summer transfer window, and expressed his delight at completing the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He said David Moyes' track record of transfer success stories from the Championship played its part in Everton beating competition from Premier League rivals to his signature.

"I'm delighted to be here. As soon as I spoke to the manager, as soon as I knew Everton were interested, to be honest, it was always going to be Everton. It’s such a big club, with the new stadium and the direction it’s going in. I just wanted to be part of that," he told evertonfc.com.

"The manager's track record of bringing players from the Championship to the Premier League was a massive part of my decision as well. Hopefully I can be the next one to do it successfully for Everton.

"It feels like a good fit for me, for sure. I think it's a given that you work hard, you run, you make tackles. I'll be doing that.

“Fans can expect a bit of everything from me”: New Everton midfielder Hackney targets Premier League impact

"I think fans can expect a bit of everything from me – attacking and defensively. I think I can carry the ball well, arrive late in the box, and hopefully score some goals. I think there's plenty more to come from me. Obviously, I haven't played in the Premier League yet, so once I get used to that I think I can kick on from there.

"It was big for me to get it done before the start of pre-season. I wanted to be here on day one and do the whole pre-season with the lads. I can't wait for it. It helps with everything. Obviously, it's a new set of lads who I'll get used to and then also living down here. I'm delighted."

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"As soon as I spoke to the Manager" ? The pulling power of Moyes will annoy a few on here no doubt !

We have bought a cracking playing who will sit perfectly alongside Garner in the midfield.

We move to the next piece of the jigsaw, Tyrique George next !

Right back and striker being made oven ready ?,

Mark Ryan 2 Posted 02/07/2026 at 14:06:50

Shame he can't pull a right back, left back and striker. Pulling power ? My Boro mate assures me that he simply wanted to play in the PL and if Boro had been promoted he would have stayed. It was always Everton because he wanted to stay in the North near to his family and no other Northern club has come in for him. If I thought there was any truth in Moyes being a factor I'd give him the credit because the lad is a decent player but pulling power of Moyes, nah

Steve Brown 3 Posted 02/07/2026 at 14:14:09

The last time Moyes had pulling power was when he persuaded Pammy that ginger hair wasn’t all that bad. She’d had a few babychams that night.

Annika Herbert 4 Posted 02/07/2026 at 14:14:43

The pulling power of Moyes!!? Not had such a good laugh in years.

Raymond Fox 5 Posted 02/07/2026 at 14:34:02

He looks an all action midfielder with that bit of class. Good luck lad, but there's plenty competition in our midfield, it wont be easy.

Mark Ryan 6 Posted 02/07/2026 at 14:37:28

Steve B @ 3, I'm still laughing

Christy Ring 7 Posted 02/07/2026 at 14:57:29

Nice one Steve! I went into a few ‘Boro fans sites, and they feel hard done by, saying £16.5m plus add on’s was an absolute steal. I hope they’re right, but I still hope Moyes doesn’t send Armstrong out on loan, just trust him, give him game time and forget about his age.

Mark Ryan 8 Posted 02/07/2026 at 14:59:01

Agreed Christy @ 7

Andrew Ellams 9 Posted 02/07/2026 at 15:34:11

I think Boro got a good deal for a player with only a year left on his contract