Everton agree £25m fee for Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney

Everton have agreed a £25 million fee with Middlesbrough for midfielder Hayden Hackney, according to reports. The 24-year-old, who was the Championship Player of the Season last term, is expected to complete his move before pre-season begins.

Hackney has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, and others. Despite that competition, Everton have moved swiftly to secure a deal for the England Under-21 international.

Impressive Championship campaign

Hackney played a pivotal role for Middlesbrough last season, scoring five goals and providing eight assists in 38 league appearances. His performances earned him the Championship Player of the Season award and a place in the Team of the Year. However, Boro fell short of promotion, losing to Hull City in the play-off final.

• Hackney joined Middlesbrough's academy at age 12 and came through the ranks.
• He has made over 100 appearances for the club across all competitions.
• The midfielder previously worked under Michael Carrick at Boro.
• Everton's first signing this summer was Merlin Röhl, who joined permanently from Freiburg.
• The Toffees finished 13th in the Premier League last season.

What's next

Hackney is set to become Everton's second signing of the summer as manager David Moyes strengthens his squad. The Toffees begin their Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace on August 22. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, will look to reinvest the fee as they prepare for another Championship season under Carrick.