Hayden Hackney

Hackney arrives at Everton in a 25 million pound move from Middlesbrough after being named Championship Player of the Season in 2025/26, when he posted five goals and seven assists as one of the second tier's standout midfielders. He gives manager David Moyes a progressive, creative option in the middle, but the step up to the Premier League is significant and his exact role and minutes are unproven at this level. For fantasy he is a wait-and-see midfielder, as the talent and end product are promising but unlikely to translate one-for-one right away. He is a speculative cheap pick with real long-term upside, one to monitor early before committing, especially if he locks down a regular starting role.