Everton’s capture of Hayden Hackney has gone down well on Merseyside – but what about on Teesside? We’ve been through the reaction on popular fan page BoroFanTV, where hundreds of Middlesbrough supporters had their say on losing their captain and reigning Championship Player of the Season to the Blues. The verdict? A fanbase split down the middle – and plenty of reasons for Evertonians to feel like the winners.
“An Absolute Steal for Everton”
While Everton officially list the fee as undisclosed, the figure doing the rounds among Boro fans was an initial £16.5m, potentially rising to around £25m with add-ons – and for a large section of the Riverside faithful, that simply wasn’t enough.
“That’s an absolute steal for Everton,” wrote Patrick Wilkinson, while Damian ‘Damo’ Putson agreed: “Everton have a bargain there. Ideal club to prove himself at !”
One Blue lurking in the comments couldn’t quite believe it either. “Everton fan here. Can’t believe we got away with this,” admitted Liam Scott.
Mick Hills didn’t hold back on his own club’s business: “Thats not a deal its a steal. 16.5m for the outstanding player in the championship. Everton got a bargain. Boro need to wake up.”
The comparisons came thick and fast, too. “Crazy price when you consider what they paid for Tyler Dibling,” wrote Robson Wilson, while Jamie MacGregor offered some maths of his own: “Good luck to the lad, but £16.5m seems low, if Sarmiento is worth £3m Hackney must be worth a trillion 🙄”
And in perhaps the finest contribution to the entire thread, James Clarke Northwich set out Boro’s ideal valuation: “Should have been £120 million and free chicken parmos for every fan for life.”
The Contract Reality
Not everyone was reaching for the pitchforks, though. Plenty of level-headed Boro fans pointed out the obvious: with a year left on Hackney’s deal, Middlesbrough’s hand was weak.
“Player wants to go , 1 year left on contract = a good deal,” reasoned Ian Te, while Stuart Peacock added: “Couldn’t have got any better with 1 year left so good deal.”
Craig Nattress revealed the context behind the move: “Last year of contract so we’d never get his true value. We made him a promise last season that he could do go if we didn’t get promotion so we’ve kept to our word.”
That tallies with what Hackney himself told evertontv about the timing feeling right – and it paints the picture of a deal that suited all parties once Boro’s play-off push fell short.
A Boro Lad, Sent Off with Love
What shines through the thread more than anything is the affection Teessiders hold for the Redcar-born midfielder. For every complaint about the fee, there was a supporter wishing him well.
“Good luck lad you did the Boro shirt proud 👏👏” wrote John Milburn. Joanne Bellerby added: “You will be sorely missed Hayden, but I wish you the best of luck in everything you do. You did the Boro shirt proud!!😊”
Maria Hulings gave him a send-off Evertonians will enjoy: “So sad to see Redcars Ronaldo go. Good luck Hayden and hope you smash it in the premier league 👏”
For one fan, the departure evoked memories of a painful goodbye from Boro’s past. “Feels like Juninho leaving for Atletico. Heart of the team is gone but I’m glad he’s going to a good club,” wrote Jay Jay.
And several backed the choice of destination specifically because of the man in the Everton dugout. “Hes gone to the right club in my opinion David moyes knows how to bring young lads on in the right way best of luck to him,” said Stephen Marshall, while Adam Noble agreed: “Great move for Hayden, we’ll deserved, he should thrive under David Moyes, proud boro fan.”
A Middlesbrough fan joined Grand Old Team’s forum to share ‘Boro fan here. Just to let you know, in 40 years folowing the boro, he’s the best home grown talent that I’ve seen in decades. You’ve got yourself a proper gem. His ability to carry the ball at pace and pick out a player or shoot is phenomenal. Put it this way, he is way better than Morgan Rogers ever was at boro, and look how that worked out’
The Doubters
Of course, no fan comment section is complete without a few predictions to screenshot and revisit in May. Steven Guthrie quipped: “Hayden take a cushion for the bench as you will be sitting on it like travers. UTB” – while Matthew Wills declared: “Won’t get in the Everton side though🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️”
Kenneth Hindmarsh went further: “Personally, I don’t think he is Premiership.”
Others among the Boro support see it very differently. Tony Webb predicted big things: “There’s every expectation that he’ll reach his potential and then some. Give it 2 seasons and I expect him to have international call up and be attracting the big 6.”
John Brady went one better: “Euro 2028 england squad bound 100% really hope we got a sell on clause in the deal.”
The Verdict from Teesside
Strip away the arguments over the fee and the picture is clear: Middlesbrough fans rate Hackney enormously, most believe he’ll make the step up, and the overwhelming sentiment — even from the angriest corners of the thread – is that Everton have got themselves a serious player at a very good price.
As Anthony Rodgers put it: “Sorry to see him go but that’s how the game works these days. If Clubs hang on too long then they lose the player for nothing! Wish him all the luck in the world and hope he becomes a permanent member of the England Squad.”
If the people who watched him week in, week out are this convinced, Evertonians have every reason to be excited about what’s coming to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.