Hayden Hackney has revealed that David Moyes' track record of developing Championship players was a decisive factor in his decision to join Everton. The 24-year-old midfielder, who was named Championship Player of the Year, completed a £16.5m move from Middlesbrough on Thursday morning.
Moyes' Pitch Seals the Deal
Hackney, who turned 24 last week, was being monitored by as many as seven other clubs after Middlesbrough missed out on promotion, losing to Hull City in the play-off final. Everton made Hackney a priority for the summer and moved quickly to pursue the England youth international. While talks took weeks, a breakthrough at the weekend paved the way for his move to Merseyside.
In comments released by the club upon the announcement, Hackney said: "I'm delighted to be here. As soon as I spoke to the manager, as soon as I knew Everton were interested, to be honest, it was always going to be Everton. It’s such a big club, with the new stadium and the direction it’s going in. I just wanted to be part of that."
Track Record of Developing Championship Talent
Hackney highlighted Moyes' reputation for elevating players from the second tier to Premier League stars, a feat he has achieved with Joleon Lescott, Tim Cahill, and Jarrod Bowen. "The manager's track record of bringing players from the Championship to the Premier League was a massive part of my decision as well. Hopefully I can be the next one to do it successfully for Everton," Hackney said.
He added: "It feels like a good fit for me, for sure. I think it's a given that you work hard, you run, you make tackles. I'll be doing that."
Moyes Welcomes New Arrival
Moyes welcomed Hackney, stating: "Hayden is a promising young player who we’ve been tracking for some time, and I’m looking forward to working with him. We’ve had a track record over the years of identifying players in the Championship who have gone on to do really well for us and been good investments. We hope that will be the case with Hayden, too."
