---
title: "Everton edging ever closer to Hayden Hackney deal as package nears £20m"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/hayden-hackney-everton-transfer-edging-closer-20m/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2026-06-29T09:16:17Z"
modified: "2026-06-29T09:37:28Z"
---

# Everton edging ever closer to Hayden Hackney deal as package nears £20m

**Everton are edging ever closer to a deal for Hayden Hackney, with the Toffees understood to have put together a package — including wages — that could reach close to £20m for the Middlesbrough midfielder.**

It’s the third attempt at a fee after two previous bids, worth £12m and £15m, were turned down by Boro. According to journalist [Alan Nixon](https://www.goodisonnews.com/transfers/everton-put-package-together-to-seal-hayden-hackney-transfer-in-straight-cash), Everton remain ahead of Crystal Palace in the race for the 24-year-old, despite Palace reportedly offering midfielder David Ozoh as a sweetener to make their own approach more attractive.

Hackney has one year left on his contract at the Riverside and is said to favour a move to the Hill Dickinson over any of his other Premier League suitors.

### Why Everton are pushing the deal through

The Championship’s Player of the Season for 2025/26, Hackney scored five goals and added seven assists last term while leading all Championship midfielders for progressive carries — numbers that explain why David Moyes has stayed patient through two rejected bids rather than walking away.

With Idrissa Gana Gueye’s contract talks stalled and Tim Iroegbunam linked with a move to Hull City, Everton’s need for fresh legs in midfield continues.

A deal in the region of £20m for Hayden Hackney, even after the haggling, still represents value against this summer’s wider market — and gives Moyes a player who could walk straight into his first-choice XI for pre-season.

Keep an eye on the [transfers pages](https://readeverton.com/transfers/) as the deal edges closer to completion.