Everton have announced the signing of Hayden Hackney, who has signed a five-year contract.

Everton Football Club has officially confirmed the signing of 24-year-old midfielder Hayden Hackney. The England midfielder moves from Middlesbrough to Goodison Park, with details of the transfer fee not disclosed. He has signed a five-year contract, extending his partnership until June 2031.

Hayden Hackney developed through Middlesbrough's youth academy, gradually transforming from a promising young player into the team's midfield leader. In the 2025/26 season, the English midfielder not only captained the team but also won the Championship Player of the Season award for his consistent and outstanding performance.

Speaking about Hayden Hackney's arrival, Everton manager David Moyes said: "Hayden Hackney is a very talented young midfielder, and we have been watching him for a long time. I am very happy to have him join the team and look forward to working with him as soon as possible. Over the years, we have brought in many excellent players from the Championship, and they have all made great progress here and proven their worth. Hopefully, Hayden can continue to write such a story."

"As an England U21 international, Hayden Hackney has outstanding ability and room for development. His arrival will further strengthen our midfield and make the competition within the team more intense, which is an important task we hope to accomplish before the start of the new season."

Hayden Hackney said in an official interview with the club: “I am very excited to join Everton. After speaking with the manager and learning that the club wanted to sign me, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. Everton is a historic and prestigious club with a brand-new stadium and is constantly improving. I look forward to being a part of this plan.”

"The manager has helped many players from the Championship establish themselves in the Premier League, which gives me confidence in joining here and is one of the key reasons for my decision. I hope to continue that success story. In my opinion, Everton is a perfect fit for my style, and I will repay everyone's trust with fighting spirit, active running, and tough tackling."

“I hope to contribute to the team on both ends of the pitch. Whether it's carrying the ball forward or making runs from deep to participate in the attack, these are my strengths, and I hope to contribute more goals. I know I still have a lot of room for growth. Although I haven't played in the Premier League yet, I believe I can continue to improve as long as I adapt to the pace of the game.”

“Being able to complete the signing before the start of preseason training is very important to me. I hope to train with my teammates from day one and participate in the team’s preseason preparations from start to finish. I can’t wait to get involved. This will not only help me integrate into the team faster, but also help me adapt to my new life as soon as possible. Everything makes me very excited.”

Hayden Hackney was born in Redka, England, but is eligible to represent both England and Scotland in international competitions because his mother is from Edinburgh, Scotland. He initially made two appearances for Scotland U21 before joining England U21. To date, he has made 13 appearances for England U21, scoring one goal and helping the team win the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Speaking about the timing of his move to Everton, Hayden Hackney said: “I think now is the best time to join Everton. The past season has allowed me to grow significantly in all aspects, and I have become more mature as a result. I am very grateful for the opportunities Middlesbrough has given me over the years; it has been an unforgettable experience. However, I feel ready to take on new challenges and am looking forward to the future.”

"The team has many excellent players, and I know the competition will be fierce. However, I am ready to meet the challenge and hope to join training as soon as possible to demonstrate my abilities in the competition."

Image source: Internet / Everton official website