Hayden Hackney transfer talks 'reaching conclusion' with £25m fee 'agreed' | OneFootball

Everton are reportedly nearing an agreement with Middlesbrough for Hayden Hackney.

The club's interest in Hackney first emerged earlier in the summer, with Boro rejecting multiple offers for the 24-year-old midfielder. Talks have continued between Everton and the Championship side, with various outlets reporting that an agreement is now imminent.

The Telegraph's John Percy has claimed negotiations are now approaching a conclusion, with Boro having rejected 'at least three' previous offers. Ben Jacobs, of Give Me Sport and talkSPORT, has reported that Everton have agreed a £25m fee for Hackney.

The fee coming out from several sources is an initial £16.5m, potentially rising to £25m with add-ons. Paul Joyce has reported that an additional £5m is dependent on appearances, with a further £3m linked to Champions League qualification and England recognition.

That latter figure would place Hackney just outside the top 10 most expensive transfers in Everton history. He was named Championship Player of the Season in 2025/26 after scoring five times and adding seven assists, for a Middlesbrough side who lost out in the second-tier play-off final.

Middlesbrough won only two of their final eight league games to fall out of automatic promotion contention, after Hackney sustained a groin injury that ruled him out of the run-in. He returned in the play-off final, but was unable to prevent defeat to Hull City at Wembley.

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Steve Brown 1 Posted 29/06/2026 at 15:05:21

6 months on the bench, subbed on after 88 minutes in the league games, a Carabao cup start before we exit, and then played wide right or right back.

Welcome to Everton.

John Collins 2 Posted 29/06/2026 at 15:21:37

Signing Hackney this week, I've just been texted. The lad has told me a few over the last season or two. Hasn't been wrong yet.

I don't know what the kid plays like but good luck to him if true.

Les Callan 4 Posted 29/06/2026 at 15:38:04

No Paul , but our dear old Davy could convert him into one !

Bill Hawker 5 Posted 29/06/2026 at 15:47:13

Great !!!

1) Young player so Moyes won't play him. 2) Doesn't play right back. 3) Doesn't play left back. 4) Doesn't play striker.

Yep, checks all the boxes.

David West 6 Posted 29/06/2026 at 15:50:48

It's a positive signing in my view, I'm happy this is the type we are looking at, similar to the Wharton to palace deal a couple of years ago, he's priced over 70m now, so the 20m they paid seems like excellent business.

More like this deal would please me, this lad will be here hopefully long after Moyes, which I hope is the plan this summer, no short term thinking.

Paul Hewitt 7 Posted 29/06/2026 at 15:55:21

I've nothing against hackney he's a decent championship player. But there are far more urgent positions we need to fill first. James Garner will probably be the new right back now.

Ajay Gopal 8 Posted 29/06/2026 at 16:29:25

The question that I have is: How much better and different in style is Hackney compared to Armstrong? This is a genuine question and would appreciate anyone’s insight.

My (uninformed) opinion is that Hackney is not that different in style and role than Armstrong and we could use that money to buy a good quality right back.

Steve Brown 9 Posted 29/06/2026 at 16:32:22

He plays further up the pitch than our current mdfielders, and seems to mirror KDH’s game style more than Gana or Garner.

tt would be interesting to know why they prioritised him over a more athletic and quicker box to box midfielder.

Ian Bennett 10 Posted 29/06/2026 at 16:38:06

Fair compromise tbh. Hopefully more to come.

John Collins 11 Posted 29/06/2026 at 16:39:37

Ajay.

I can see Armstrong leaving in the near future. Manager obviously doesn't rate him highly enough to play him central. Big,big bloomer if we let this kid go.

Les Callan 12 Posted 29/06/2026 at 16:43:16

Steve @ 9. He is described on Wikipedia as a deep lying midfielder.

Alan McGuffog 13 Posted 29/06/2026 at 16:49:03

Welcome Hayden. You will grace the position once held by Alex Parker, Tommy Wright and Gary Stevens

Andrew Merrick 14 Posted 29/06/2026 at 16:50:39

So a decent player at an ok price but not the most urgent position to fill. If we are building a squad, he belongs, but so does Harrison Lets see who else is coming, and going...