Hayden Hackney's contract and transfer situation at Middlesbrough FC explained | OneFootball

The Boro star has been the subject of transfer interest for some time, but Middlesbrough won't want to lose him any time soon.

Hayden Hackney has been one of Middlesbrough's shining stars since his first-team breakthrough in 2022, with the England youth international developing into one of the best central midfielders in the Championship under Michael Carrick.

The 22-year-old joined his boyhood club at Under-10 level and was making appearances for Middlesbrough's Under-18 side when he was still a schoolboy.

Hackney was handed his first professional contract in 2019, before being rewarded with his senior debut in an FA Cup third round tie vs Brentford in January 2021.

However, after suffering relegation to the National League whilst on loan with Scunthorpe United in 2021/22, the Redcar-born midfielder appeared to be some distance away from being ready to make the step-up to first-team level at the Riverside Stadium.

But, two highly impressive seasons later, and Hackney is one of the first names on Carrick's teamsheet every single week. Those standout performances have brought international recognition, as well as significant transfer attention from some top clubs.

So, what is the state of play when it comes to a potential exit? Do Middlesbrough sit in a strong or weak position to fend off interest because of his contract? Football League World investigates...

Hackney's contract situation at Middlesbrough

Hackney has always been a young player that the club have held in high regard over the years, and it didn't take long for everyone connected with Middlesbrough Football Club to realise just how good he is/can be upon his first-team breakthrough in 2022.

In a matter of weeks after his appointment in October 2022, Carrick handed Hackney a new long-term contract extension to take him through until July 2026.

It was clear then that the Boro boss felt he would have a major part to play in the club's future, as Middlesbrough moved quickly to lock down their exciting young midfielder for the next three-and-a-half years.

So, is he still playing his football on that contract? The answer to that is no, as Boro once again decided to hand him a new long-term deal in June 2023.

That means Hackney is contracted at the Riverside Stadium until the summer of 2027, which puts the club in a strong position to resist any transfer interest from clubs in the near future.

However, according to Capology - whose figures must be stressed are an estimate - Hackney's weekly salary at the club is only £6,500 per week, which if correct, would place him as one of the lowest earners in the squad.

Therefore, whilst Boro may be in a strong position with regard to the length of his contract, they may well not be should a top club come in and offer a sizeable wage packet to Hackney.

Hackney's transfer situation explained

As is modern football, and indeed the ever-growing popularity and exposure of the Championship, second-tier sides have no real hiding place for their talented young stars to keep them out of sight from the eyes of top clubs.

Middlesbrough have found that out in recent times too, with Aston Villa swooping for Morgan Rogers in a big-money deal just six months after he'd signed for Boro from Manchester City last season.

Hackney's performances have seen him draw a lot of attention from some elite Premier League clubs in recent times, which despite him being contracted on Teesside until 2027, will be of significant concern to Middlesbrough.

Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Newcastle United have all been linked with a move for him since the summer of 2023, whilst Manchester United and Tottenham have also been credited as having an interest.

As of October 2024, a report from GIVEMESPORT revealed that Newcastle and Spurs are set to be left frustrated in their attempts to sign Hackney in the January transfer window, with Middlesbrough ruling out any possibility of a winter exit.

That report states that Boro have slapped a £25 million valuation on their midfield maestro, which would be a club record fee received for a Middlesbrough player.

The Teessiders will surely have no interest in selling their star asset halfway through the season, but if Carrick's side miss out on promotion this season, they could find themselves in a tough position to keep hold of him for another season of Championship football for 2025/26.