Hackney Transfer News: Why top-flight clubs are clamouring for Middlesbrough’s star man

It is becoming quicker to name the Premier League clubs not interested in Hayden Hackney, such is the clamour for his signature this summer.

Manchester United, Tottenham, Brighton, Leeds and Nottingham Forest are just some of the sides to have been linked with Middlesbrough’s midfield maestro in recent weeks, with newly-promoted Hull City also reportedly keen.

But it is Everton and Crystal Palace who look to be leading the race for Boro’s homegrown star.

David Moyes’ outfit saw their opening bid rejected earlier this month, while the Eagles appear set to better that offer with a package worth around £20million.

That would still fall short of the Teesiders’ rumoured £25million asking price, but it feels inevitable that a deal will be done this summer – the only question is with which club.

So, as the race for Hackney hots up, we’ve taken a look at why the 23-year-old is coveted by so many top-flight sides.

Talent and leadership

Hackney was named the EFL Championship’s Player of the Season last term – and with good reason.

The England Under-21 international was pivotal to Middlesbrough’s fortunes as they fought for automatic promotion for much of the campaign, before ultimately losing 1-0 in the play-off final to Hull City.

In fact, it was a late season injury to Hackney that arguably derailed Boro’s push for the top two, when a groin issue saw him miss ten matches from mid-March onwards.

Kim Hellberg’s team only won two games in that period, with both those victories coming against out-of-form opposition in Watford and Sheffield Wednesday.

And he was ultimately only able to have a limited impact on the play-off final itself, when he appeared for just 21 minutes off the bench at a scorching hot Wembley Stadium.

The Boro captain had been a mainstay in the team until then, though, contributing five goals and seven assists across 38 regular season matches.

But his off-pitch influence was perhaps just as significant, as Hellberg indicated when speaking about Hackney earlier in the campaign.

“I’m proud of how he has performed and how he is as a person,” he said.

“We talk about that so many times. He has been excellent.

“He has helped me a lot in terms of being that type of captain. He has been top on the pitch, but also off the pitch.

“Those types of players are great to have as a coach, who drive the training environment forward all the time and help everyone in the group.

“So of course, we are lucky to have that type of person and player.”

Attacking intent

Hackney’s mental attributes appear ready-made for the Premier League, then, but it is his ability with the ball at his feet that really catches the eye.

The Redcar native posted some remarkable numbers last season, as he attempted (28.34) and completed (23.08) more passes into the final third per 90 than any other player in the division.

Looking exclusively at final third passes completed, that figure is significantly more than second-place Aidan Morris (29.91) and way ahead of team-mate Riley McGree (16.62) in third.

Hellberg’s front-footed possession-heavy style will have contributed to those numbers, but it can’t detract from how Hackney has excelled in the Swede’s system.

Boro’s No.7 was impactful with his passes into attacking areas – creating the sixth-most chances per 90 in the Championship at 2.29 – while being willing to mix things up by taking on opponents with the ball at his feet.

He’s also adept at manoeuvring himself into shooting positions once his team are in full flow.

That resulted in Hackney racking up a total of 98 efforts at goal across the 2025/26 season, which is a remarkably high tally for a player who often drops back in deeper areas.

With that in mind, 24 shots on target is perhaps a slightly disappointing return, suggesting there is still room for improvement at the 5ft 10in midfielder’s next club.

However, it would be foolish to think that Hackney is the complete package at 23. Top-flight teams are looking to invest in a player who has a wide-ranging skill set and a particularly high ceiling, rather than the finished product.

Defensive acumen

Talking of Hackney’s all-round game, the former Scunthorpe loanee’s off-the-ball attributes are almost as impressive as his passing and creativity.

Only three players in the Championship regained possession more times in the attacking third than the in-demand star (33), while his 113 regains in the middle third was only just outside the division’s top ten.

Again, those numbers are influenced by Middlesbrough’s system, with Hellberg asking his players to press high up the pitch – but they nonetheless point to a midfielder who doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities.

And Boro’s overall defensive record suggests that the whole midfield unit was working effectively with their rearguard to shut down opposition attacks.

After all, only champions Coventry City (45) conceded fewer goals than the Teesiders (47) last season, despite the plaudits they received for their free-flowing attacking play.

Hackney clearly played a key part in achieving that lowly number. If we break the campaign down into the period prior to his mid-March injury and the matches that followed, it is notable that Middlesbrough’s goals conceded per 90 rose from 0.97 to 1.18.

The Boro academy graduate’s absence won’t have been the sole reason for that drop-off, of course, but it was certainly a contributory factor.

In the physically intense world of the Premier League, a creative player who can combine cutting edge with a dogged defensive approach is invaluable, which goes a long way to explaining the widespread interest in Hackney.

The battle for his signature is sure to be fierce over the coming weeks, but whichever club is successful will have a true stand-out talent on their hands next season.