In a significant turn of events that has sent ripples through the Championship and wider football world, Middlesbrough FC have officially announced the departure of a key midfielder, who has landed a lucrative £20 million contract with another club.
The identity of the player has not been formally disclosed, but the individual was regarded as a central figure in Boro’s midfield setup. After weeks of mounting speculation, the transfer has now been finalized, making it one of the most financially significant exits in recent Middlesbrough history.
Attention continues to focus on Hayden Hackney, with growing speculation around his future at the Riverside Stadium. Following Middlesbrough’s failure to secure promotion to the Premier League last season, several top-tier clubs are reportedly lining up bids for the England U21 international.
Despite the club’s intention to retain Hackney, a substantial offer—reportedly above £20 million—could tempt Boro into a deal. The young midfielder is currently on preseason duty with the squad in Portugal after participating in the U21 European Championships.
Hackney has attracted attention from at least five Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, with additional interest coming from Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest. European clubs are also circling, with Erik ten Hag reportedly eyeing a move to bring the youngster to Bayer Leverkusen, while Eintracht Frankfurt are also monitoring the situation.
More recently, reports indicate that Everton are preparing a formal offer as manager David Moyes seeks to bolster his midfield options following the departure of Abdoulaye Doucouré and the return of Orel Mangala to Lyon after his loan stint.
Boro head coach Rob Edwards has remained tight-lipped regarding potential departures of key players like Hackney and Rav van den Berg. However, he emphasized that the club is prepared to handle any such exits constructively.
“Of course we want to keep our best players,” Edwards said, “but if a decision is made at a higher level and it’s deemed the right move, it shouldn’t be seen as a setback. We’ll treat it as a chance to strengthen and move forward.”
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