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Hayden Hackney left Middlesbrough for Everton this week

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Sport

Craig Johns Middlesbrough FC writer

12:00, 05 Jul 2026

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney

A football finance expert believes the £25 million fee Middlesbrough have received for Hayden Hackney is about right in terms of market value.

Boro sold their homegrown star to Premier League side Everton this week, and are understood to be getting around £17m of the fee up front. They also included a sell-on fee clause in the deal.

Rob Wilson, Professor of Applied Sport Finance at the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) believes the fee Boro received meets what he would consider Hackney’s market value.

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Boro rejected three offers from Everton before eventually agreeing a deal. And while Wilson feels Boro have done well to receive the fee they did for a player in the final year of his contract, he feels Everton have also done well to recognise a market opportunity.

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Wilson, speaking via the Betting Lounge, said: “For the clubs who know where to find value, there are still bargains to be had too. Hayden Hackney at £25 million feels right given his profile, age, the English premium and his performances for Middlesbrough in the Championship. He could be the steal of the summer.”

We also asked our fan panel, which consists of Youtube analyst Phil Spencer, Boro Breakdown co-host Dana Malt, Boropolis co-founder Chris Cassidy and Twe12th Man member John Donovan, their thoughts on Hackney’s sale.

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Dana Malt

It’s a shame, because ultimately if Boro had won in the play-off final, he’d still be here gearing up for a season in the Premier League with his hometown club.

As soon as the final whistle went at Wembley though, his departure became even more inevitable than it already felt. With that in mind, it doesn’t sting as much. I’d already gone through the emotions of him leaving when Ipswich came knocking and Boro accepted their bid. After that, I was just happy he was still a Middlesbrough player.

I do think Boro got the best deal they could have given the fact Hackney had one year left on his deal. Boro have benefitted, and will continue to benefit, from add-ons and clauses placed in departing transfers, with Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers being two examples. I think that is particularly important here given the lower up-front fee.