Hayden Hackney’s favoured club comes to light as Boro departure nears

Middlesbrough appear increasingly likely to lose one of their brightest talents this summer, with Hayden Hackney expected to move on following the club’s failure to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Boro suffered heartbreak in the Championship play-off final, losing 1-0 to Hull City after a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Oli McBurnie. Hackney, who had recently returned from injury, featured for only 20 minutes in the defeat.

Missing out on promotion was always likely to intensify interest in Middlesbrough’s standout performers, and Hackney now looks set to be one of the club’s biggest departures. Having progressed through the academy ranks at the Riverside Stadium, the midfielder has developed into a key figure and enjoyed the strongest campaign of his career in 2025/26.

The 23-year-old contributed five league goals and eight assists while producing a series of influential displays that earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Season, despite missing the final stretch of the campaign through injury.

Reports suggest Hackney has identified Everton as his preferred destination should he leave Teesside this summer, placing the Merseyside club at the front of the queue for his signature.

Although discussions between the two clubs are yet to begin, it is understood that once the player finalises his future plans, negotiations could quickly accelerate toward a potential agreement.

Everton are not the only club monitoring the midfielder, however. Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace remain firmly interested, while Manchester United are admirers of the player, though he is not currently considered a priority target at Old Trafford.

Even if Middlesbrough had secured promotion, Hackney’s long-term future at the club may still have been uncertain given the growing attention surrounding his performances and potential.

A switch to Everton could prove to be an ideal next step in his development. The Toffees offer Premier League stability, a passionate fanbase and ambitions of competing higher up the table under David Moyes.

The Everton boss has built a reputation as a strong man-manager capable of helping younger players grow, which may appeal to Hackney as he looks to continue progressing toward full England international recognition.

Competition for places would still be fierce, with James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye among those occupying central midfield roles. However, Gueye’s contract situation and advancing age could create an opening for Hackney to establish himself in the first team sooner rather than later.

On paper, Everton appears to present a sensible and relatively low-risk move for the Middlesbrough captain — one that could offer regular top-flight football and the platform to unlock his full potential.