Everton Sign Championship Star Hayden Hackney as Spurs Break Record for Fernandes

Everton have finally got their man. Tottenham have gone for the statement punch.

On a day that said plenty about where both clubs see themselves heading, Hayden Hackney left Middlesbrough for Merseyside in a deal that could reach £25m, while Spurs ripped up their own transfer record to prise Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m.

Two midfielders. Two very different stages of their careers. One clear message: control the middle of the pitch, control the season.

Everton bet big on Hackney’s rise

Everton have chased Hackney for weeks. Middlesbrough knew exactly what they had: last season’s Championship player of the year, 24 years old, one year left on his contract but with Premier League clubs circling.

They rejected multiple bids. They held the line at their £25m valuation. Crystal Palace interest helped stiffen that resolve. Hackney did the rest by making it clear where he wanted to go.

“As soon as I spoke to the manager, as soon as I knew Everton were interested, it was always going to be Everton,” he said after signing a five‑year deal. The pull of a “big club”, a new stadium and a manager with a proven pathway from the Championship to the top flight did the heavy lifting.

Everton will pay an initial £16.5m, with the fee potentially rising to £25m if various add-ons are triggered, including the midfielder breaking into the England senior side. For a player who has yet to kick a ball in the Premier League, that’s a bold commitment. For a club still reshaping itself under David Moyes, it’s a calculated one.

Hackney arrives with pedigree. A European Under‑21 champion with England in 2025, he captained Middlesbrough and drove their season from the centre of the pitch. He carries the ball, breaks lines, and times his runs into the box. He knows it too.

“I think fans can expect a bit of everything from me – attacking and defensively,” he said. “I think I can carry the ball well, arrive late in the box, and hopefully score some goals. I think there’s plenty more to come from me. Obviously, I haven’t played in the Premier League yet, so once I get used to that I think I can kick on from there.”

Moyes had tried to get him last summer before turning to other areas of the squad. He didn’t forget.

“Hayden is a promising young player who we’ve been tracking for some time, and I’m looking forward to working with him,” the Everton manager said. “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.”

This is exactly that kind of move: a player on the rise, with resale value and room to grow, asked to step into a higher tempo and harsher spotlight. Moyes wants more competition in midfield and made that clear.

“He’s an England Under‑21 international who will provide greater competition in midfield, which is something I wanted going into the new season.”

Everton, who are also close to bringing in winger Tyrique George from Chelsea, are slowly rebuilding the core of their side. Hackney is not the finished article. He is the gamble on what comes next.

Spurs go all in on Fernandes

If Everton’s deal feels like a carefully weighted investment, Tottenham’s move for Mateus Fernandes screams ambition.

£85m from Spurs to West Ham. A 21‑year‑old Portugal international at the heart of it. A club record fee and a clear sign that Roberto De Zerbi wants a different gear in his midfield.

Fernandes’ route here has been fast and direct. Sporting. A season at Southampton in 2024‑25. A move to West Ham last August. Now, less than a year later, he crosses London for one of the biggest deals of the window.

De Zerbi has tracked him for a long time and didn’t bother hiding his admiration.

“I’ve admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play,” the Spurs head coach said. “Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency at this level.”

This is the profile De Zerbi trusts: technically secure, brave under pressure, aggressive in and out of possession. A midfielder who doesn’t just survive the press but invites it, then plays through it.

Fernandes sounds like he has already bought into the idea.

“I’m very excited for this next step. Spurs is a massive club and the head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join,” he said. “When we spoke it was very special. We look at football in the same way – going on to the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try and win every game. I can’t wait to get started, to meet the fans, to meet everyone, and give everything for the club.”

For Spurs, this is more than just another signing. This is a tactical pillar. De Zerbi underlined exactly why.

“Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments. I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development and I’m excited to start working with him.”

Tottenham have paid for a midfielder who can dictate the rhythm, not just follow it. The fee brings its own pressure, but Spurs have chosen this moment to push hard. They want to move from chasing the pack to setting the pace.

Everton have found their Championship talisman and handed him a Premier League stage. Spurs have shattered their transfer record to secure a playmaker for De Zerbi’s blueprint. Two clubs, two cheques, one question: which midfield rebuild will define the season?