Everton have completed the signing of midfielder Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough.
Earlier in the week, Everton agreed a £16.5m initial fee for Hackney with the Championship outfit.
The deal has now been completed, with Hackney undergoing his medical at Finch Farm on Wednesday afternoon.
Having put pen to paper on a five-year contract, the 23-year-old has secured his future on Merseyside until 2031.
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David Moyes has sang the praises of his latest Everton addition, with his comments suggesting just where Hackney will find himself in the midfield pecking order.
What David Moyes said about Everton signing Hayden Hackney
Although questions still remain over Idrissa Gana Gueye’s future, there is no doubting that Everton have a bloated midfield department.
The midfielder has been the player Everton have set out to secure as their priority this summer, with Angus Kinnear convincing Hackney to join Everton.
However, Everton fans will be all too aware that signing players is one thing; seeing Moyes utilise his squad is another thing.
“Hayden is a promising young player who we’ve been tracking for some time, and I’m looking forward to working with him,” Moyes told the Everton website.
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“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.
“He’s an England Under-21 international who will provide greater competition in midfield, which is something I wanted going into the new season.”
Providing greater competition indicates the work Hackney has got to put in this summer to earn himself a spot in the starting XI.
As many recent signings at Everton have demonstrated, nothing is going to be given to the midfielder just because of the significant money invested in him.
What Hackney can expect from his arrival at Everton
Everton have made some solid signings from the Championship over the years, with the likes of Phil Jagielka and Jordan Pickford just two of the many names.
There have also been some underwhelming signings like Tyler Dibling.
It is perhaps the latter which may worry a number of Everton supporters as Moyes has not provided Dibling with many opportunities in the side.
Competition is certainly going to be fierce heading into this summer’s pre-season.
Everton are not looking to move on Harrison Armstrong despite the arrival on his England U21 teammate, but there may have to be some movement in that area of the squad.
Ironically, Moyes claimed he wanted even more competition in the midfield department this summer, which does show that The Friedkin Group are giving him their support.
Where Hackney slots into the pecking order is not yet known given Gueye’s Everton future is yet to be resolved.
Many may feel as if the Senegal international is heading towards an exit on Merseyside having failed to agree to new terms just yet.
The early verdict from Moyes is promising as the Scot shares Everton’s long-term interest in Hackney and his excitement in working with him.
A big positive of getting this deal done so early is that it will provide the 23-year-old the full summer to work under Moyes and win his approval.
James Garner has nailed down one of the midfield spots at Everton, with Hackney, Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Rohl, Armstrong and potentially Gueye all fighting for the other spot.
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