Everton completed the signing of midfielder Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough on July 2, 2026, in a deal worth up to £25 million.
Tottenham Hotspur secured West Ham's Mateus Fernandes for a club-record £85 million on the same day.
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The Merseyside club finalized a five-year contract with Hackney, the reigning Championship player of the year, following weeks of fee negotiations.
Middlesbrough initially rejected multiple bids before accepting an initial £16.5 million payment that includes performance-related add-ons.
Hackney chose Everton despite competing transfer interest from Crystal Palace, citing discussions with the manager and the club's future trajectory as decisive factors.
"As soon as I spoke to the manager, as soon as I knew Everton were interested, it was always going to be Everton.
It’s such a big club, with the new stadium and the direction it’s going in. I just wanted to be part of that," said Hackney.
"The manager’s track record of bringing players from the Championship to the Premier League was a massive part of my decision as well.
Hopefully I can be the next one to do it successfully for Everton," he added.
The former Middlesbrough captain intends to contribute to both defensive and attacking phases once he adapts to the top flight.
"I think fans can expect a bit of everything from me – attacking and defensively.
I think I can carry the ball well, arrive late in the box, and hopefully score some goals," said Hackney.
