This EFL Midfielder is a Man in Demand

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Could this finally be the window that he gets his Premier League move? The odds are in his favor, and we believe that it is well warranted for Middlesbrough midfielder and England U21 international Hayden Hackney.

High Praise for Hackney

The Englishman has had a strong opening half to the Championship season, more recently adding to his tally at the front end of the pitch to make it four goals and three assists in 19 appearances this season. What stands out the most about Hackney is his work rate.

A true engine in midfield that enhances the energy of the personnel around him. His impact on the side has been recognised by Boro manager Kim Hellberg, having recently been appointed to replace Rob Edwards after departing for future Championship side Wolves.

👏 Kim Hellberg on Hayden Hackney:

"He’s a fantastic player and is good at everything. I think he could play in every position on the pitch and do it brilliantly. Everyone can see he’s a brilliant player, but everything around that has impressed me so much. He wants happiness… pic.twitter.com/YDr1JGXko5

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) December 8, 2025

Hackney has featured in each of Middlesbrough's 19 league appearances so far this season and managed 43 out of 46 in the season prior. He also featured regularly for England U21s in their Euro-winning campaign, claiming an important assist in the semi-final victory over the Netherlands.

He ranks at the top for assists, touches in the opposition box, and defensive recoveries compared to rival midfielders. Even Neil Warnock has been quick to sing his praises about the midfielder, having given Hackney his debut in the FA Cup against Brentford in 2021.

The Interest Thickens

The clubs supposedly interested in the Middlesbrough academy graduate include Brighton and Fulham. The Seagulls are known for their vast success in recruiting top talents, and this signing could be in response to the growing interest between Manchester United and Carlos Baleba, with fees of £80 million rumoured to be circulating for the midfielder.

Meanwhile, Fulham has utilised the likes of Alex Iwobi in the central midfield role, but they remain short of a quality midfield recruit in that department. Hackney would slot into the Fulham side seamlessly, and you wouldn't bet against Marco Silva getting the best out of the Englishman, as seen with Harry Wilson looking like a man on a mission.

🚨 Brighton sent scouts to watch Hayden Hackney in Middlesbrough’s 4-1 win over Hull and are interested in a January deal for the midfielder.

The 23-year-old academy graduate has been a key figure since breaking through and has 3 goals + 5 assists this season.

[via @TEAMtalk]… pic.twitter.com/RxsO3eHrIA

— Brighton Buzz (@BrightonBuzzz) December 8, 2025

Either way, both seem like sensible career choices for the 23-year-old, attracting interest from two established Premier League clubs with a great opportunity to achieve European football.

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

Of course, there is always the option to remain at his current club. As they say, home is where the heart is, and it may be that much more appealing for Hackney to stick around considering his side currently sits in second place in the division. Boro have not been too fortunate in recent years, narrowly missing out on the play-off spots in consecutive seasons as a recognisable "nearly club" in the division.

This year may just be different. Defensive reinforcements, Morgan Whittaker finding his feet, and Hackney being Hackney. There is good reason to believe that the Yorkshire side is well deserving of the automatic promotion spot, so the incentive to leave may not be as welcoming as it has been before.

Here's how the table looks tonight 👇#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/E8L1vgzMNk

— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) December 6, 2025

Putting it into perspective, if Middlesbrough were to achieve Premier League promotion for the first time since the 2016/2017 season, history has shown that there is a good chance they will need to include a return ticket on their journey. Either way, Hackney will have tough decisions to make as the January window looms ever closer. It seems increasingly inevitable that a move away is on the cards, and the Hackney transfer talk can finally be put to rest.