Hayden Hackney

Hayden Rhys Hackney (born 26 June 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Middlesbrough.

Early life
Hackney was born in Redcar. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary School.

Club career
Hackney joined Middlesbrough's academy at under-10 level. Having been part of the Middlesbrough team that reached the under-18 Premier League Cup final in 2019, he signed his first professional contract with the club on 26 June 2019, his 17th birthday. Shortly after being named on the first-team bench for a match against Barnsley in November 2019, he was praised by Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate, with Woodgate claiming "Hayden Hackney deserves to be there because he's been outstanding for the Under-23s".

Hackney made his senior debut for Middlesbrough on 9 January 2021, starting in a 2–1 FA Cup defeat away to Brentford. He made his league debut for the club in the final match of the season as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers. He signed a new two-year contract with the club later that month.

On 31 August 2021, Hackney joined EFL League Two side Scunthorpe United on loan until January 2022. After playing in the majority of games in the first half of the season, Hackney's loan was extended to last until the end of the season. In the 15th minute of a 2–0 defeat to Exeter City, Hackney was caught spitting at an opponent. The referee did not see this at the time, but after the game, the Football Association confirmed that Hackney had admitted to spitting and was given a six-game suspension. He made 31 appearances as Scunthorpe were relegated to the National League.

Hackney's game time at Middlesbrough was limited at the start of the 2022–23 season, but Hackney became a regular starter following the appointment of Michael Carrick as manager in October 2022. On 19 October, Hackney scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in a 4–1 win against Wigan Athletic. On 8 December, he signed a contract extension until 2026. Hackney won the Middlesbrough Young Player of the Year Award for the 2022–23 season, having made 38 appearances and scoring 3 goals. Hackney was also nominated for the Championship Young Player of the Season Award for the same season, but lost out to Bristol City's Alex Scott.

On 28 June 2023, Hackney signed a new contract for Middlesbrough, keeping him to the club until the summer of 2027. Hackney captained the club for the first time in a 1–0 home defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on 6 January 2024. On 9 January, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.

International career
Hackney represented England at under-15 level. He is also eligible to represent Scotland because his mother was born in Edinburgh. He debuted for the Scotland under-21 team in November 2022. In September 2023, he was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time.

On 11 September 2023, Hackney made his England U21 debut during a 3–0 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win away to Luxembourg.

Style of play
Hackney plays as a central midfielder. He often plays as a deep-lying playmaker due to his ability in possession of the ball.

Honours
Individual
 * Middlesbrough Young Player of the Year: 2022–23