Everton's Hayden Hackney Credits Michael Carrick for Premier League Breakthrough
Everton midfielder Hayden Hackney has credited Michael Carrick for helping him achieve his Premier League dream. The 24-year-old joined Everton from Middlesbrough last month in an initial £16.5million deal.
What happened?
Hackney spoke to The Athletic about his time under Carrick's guidance at Middlesbrough, where he developed his skills and eventually became a Premier League player. He said, "I can't thank him enough, really." Hackney credits Carrick with teaching him the intricacies of their shared position, including positioning, knowing when to jump, and passing forward.
Why it matters for Everton
Hackney's comments highlight the importance of Carrick's influence on his development. The former England international and future permanent Manchester United manager helped Hackney achieve his goal of becoming a Premier League player. Hackney's signing from Middlesbrough was a significant coup for Everton, and his comments suggest that Carrick's guidance played a key role in his success.
What comes next?
As Everton prepares for the new season, Hackney's comments offer insight into the club's transfer strategy and the importance of developing young players. With the team currently 36 points behind leaders Arsenal and having lost their last four games, Everton will be looking to improve their form and push for a top-half finish in the Premier League.
Everton's League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way) is 13th in the Premier League, with 49 points from 38 games, and a recent form of LLDDL. The team has scored 47 goals and conceded 50, resulting in a -3 goal difference. Their last result was a 1-0 loss to Tottenham on 2026-05-24. Recent form (last 5) is 0W-1D-4L (LLLLD, most recent first).
