Everton have finalised the acquisition of Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, in a deal that could potentially reach £25m. Concurrently, Tottenham have confirmed the signing of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m, marking a club record for Spurs.
Hackney, a midfielder who was recognised as the Championship player of the season last term, has committed to a five-year contract with the Merseyside club. Negotiations for his transfer spanned several weeks, with Middlesbrough initially declining multiple offers from Everton. The player had only 12 months remaining on his contract, and interest from Crystal Palace reportedly strengthened Middlesbrough’s negotiating position. However, Hackney expressed a clear desire to join Everton.
Hackney’s move to Everton
Everton will pay an initial £16.5m for Hackney, with the fee potentially increasing to £25m through add-ons, including clauses related to his potential appearances for England. Hackney joined Middlesbrough at the Under-10 level and made 154 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals. He was also part of the England squad that secured the European Under-21 Championship in 2025.
The midfielder stated that his decision was heavily influenced by the manager and the club’s direction, particularly with the new stadium. He hopes to be the next player to successfully transition from the Championship to the Premier League with Everton. Hackney described his playing style as offering a mix of attacking and defensive contributions, with an ability to carry the ball, make late runs into the box, and score goals.
David Moyes, Everton’s manager, had previously shown interest in Hackney last summer before focusing on other areas of the squad. Moyes commented that Hackney is a promising young player who has been monitored for some time, and he looks forward to working with him. He highlighted Everton’s history of successfully integrating players from the Championship, expressing hope that Hackney will follow suit. Moyes added that Hackney, an England Under-21 international, will enhance competition in the midfield, a key objective for the upcoming season.
Hackney played a significant role in Middlesbrough’s journey to the play-off final in May, where they were defeated 1-0 by Hull City. Last season, he made 39 league appearances for Middlesbrough, contributing five goals and seven assists.
Fernandes joins Tottenham in record deal
In other transfer news, Tottenham have finalised the signing of midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for a club-record fee of £85m. The 21-year-old Portugal international started his career at Sporting and spent a season at Southampton in 2024-25 before joining West Ham in August of the previous year.
Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham’s head coach, expressed his long-standing admiration for Fernandes, noting his combination of quality on the ball, intensity, and intelligence, which aligns with the team’s playing philosophy. De Zerbi also highlighted Fernandes’s experience in the Premier League despite his age, and his consistent performance at that level. Fernandes himself expressed excitement for this new chapter, citing Tottenham as a massive club and De Zerbi’s vision as a crucial factor in his decision. He looks forward to meeting the fans and giving his all for the club.
De Zerbi further praised Fernandes’s ability to perform under pressure, progress the ball, work diligently for the team, and make decisive plays in challenging situations. He believes Tottenham provides an ideal environment for Fernandes’s continued development and is eager to commence working with him. Everton are also reportedly close to securing winger Tyrique George from Chelsea following his loan spell with the Toffees last season.
Middlesbrough released a statement wishing Hackney well for his future as he embarks on a new chapter in his career.
Read Also
Source: theguardian.com
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”