Hayden Coulson

Hayden Ross Coulson (born 17 June 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for side Blackpool.

Middlesbrough
Coulson made five appearances for Middlesbrough in the 2015–16 UEFA Youth League, before signing his first professional contract with the club on 1 July 2016.

St Mirren (loan)
On 9 July 2018, Coulson joined newly promoted Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on a season-long loan. He made his debut soon after, on 13 July, starting in a goalless draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the Scottish League Cup. The club eventually emerged as 3–2 winners in the penalty shootout, with Coulson scoring one of their penalties. He went on to score his first goal for the club on 28 July 2018, in the first minute against Dumbarton in a 6–0 League Cup win. Coulson returned to Middlesbrough on 17 October 2018 after his loan was cut short, having made 11 appearances for the side in all competitions, scoring once.

Cambridge United (loan)
On 31 January 2019, Coulson joined League Two club Cambridge United on loan until the end of the season.

Return to Middlesbrough
Following his return from his loan at Cambridge, Coulson broke into the Middlesbrough squad for the 2019–20 season. He made his league debut for the club on the opening day of the season in a 3–3 away draw with Luton Town. On 1 February 2020, Coulson scored a first league goal of his career, equalising fifteen minutes from time in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers. Coulson appeared 29 times in the EFL Championship season, including six times after the return following a break on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ipswich Town (loan)
Coulson joined League One side Ipswich Town on loan on 9 August 2021. On 31 January 2022, Coulson was recalled by Middlesbrough having made six appearances for the club.

Peterborough United (loan)
Following his recall from Ipswich Town, Coulson joined Championship side Peterborough United on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.

Aberdeen (loan)
On 26 July 2022, Coulson joined Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen, on a season-long loan.

Blackpool (loan)
On 8 January 2024, Coulson joined League One side Blackpool on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season.

Blackpool
Coulson joined Blackpool on a permanent basis, for an undisclosed fee, on 27 June 2024. He signed a three-year contract.

International career
Coulson has represented England at U16, U17 and U18 level. Coulson earned a call up to the U19 in 2016. He made his national-team debut in a 1–0 victory over Northern Ireland U16.