Harry Diamond 02/07/2026 18comments  |  Jump to last

Yakubu Ayegbeni has backed Hayden Hackney to be a success after completing his transfer to Everton.

Hackney has penned a five-year deal with the Blues and becomes Everton's first summer signing, arriving from Championship side Middlesbrough for a £16.5m fee.

The 24-year-old scored five goals and added seven assists last season, earning the second-tier's Player of the Season award as 'Boro narrowly missed out on promotion.

Yakubu, who moved from Middlesbrough to Everton in 2007, is confident Hackney has what it takes to thrive in the Premier League.

"I think he can do well. I think he can do very well. The way he plays, the style, the way he does things on the pitch. Moyesie loves that kind of player, he’ll fit into the team," Yakubu told ToffeeWeb in our upcoming Once a Blue episode.

"We need to build a team and not every year be struggling for relegation. We’re lucky to have Moyesie, and if we can get three, four, or five players in, next year we’ll be talking about playing in Europe."

Having made the same move from the Riverside during his own career, we asked Yak what kind of advice he would give Everton's latest recruit.

"Just play well. When you play well, the fans will love you. That’s the only thing, just play well. As a new player, you have to start well," he said.

"Your first game in training, everyone is looking at you when you’re a new player coming to a new club. As players, we all speak around. Touches that go (bad), we all go ‘oh, you didn’t pay that kind of money!?’. We make jokes, you know?

"I think he will be fine. He’s been playing in England, he understands the way we play football in England. He’s got great supporters who can give him support. Like I said, just play good, work hard, and they will love you. The supporters love any player who can do that."

 

Reader Comments (18)

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Kevin Molloy
1 Posted 02/07/2026 at 15:53:44
Yak's right, we are lucky to have him.
Paul Murray
2 Posted 02/07/2026 at 20:15:42
I said 12 months ago we need to sign this player. He’s an excellent player – got it all.

Let's hope he comes straight in and doesn't sit in the bench holding hands with George.
Phil Roberts
3 Posted 02/07/2026 at 21:50:22
Well Paul if he sits on the bench holding hands with George, we could be the first club to have two openly LBGT players in the team.

Do you know something?
Paul O\\\'Neill
4 Posted 02/07/2026 at 22:06:58
Phil, as a gay man myself, it may come as a shock that we don’t just spend the whole time holding hands, and that straight men sometimes hold hands too.
That said it would be better to have them both on the pitch, I agree.
John Collins
5 Posted 02/07/2026 at 22:10:06
Well said Paul.

Ive got a few gay mates.
They reckon the ones who shout loudest at them are the ones who are curious.
Paul Murray
6 Posted 02/07/2026 at 23:01:57
Ha ha lads I meant let’s hope the two lads don’t get benched and sitting together all season. If they play and score I’m happy to get in the middle and cuddle 🥰
Brendan McLaughlin
7 Posted 02/07/2026 at 23:05:43
So are all the Paul's on TW gay?
Brendan McLaughlin
8 Posted 02/07/2026 at 23:17:00
I'm in Spain now... pissed .... sorry JC.

It's after midnight... there's kids still playing football in the streets.

Kin'll
Paul Griffiths
9 Posted 02/07/2026 at 00:07:22
No Brendan mate but I'll support any Paul who is.

I stopped taking anything seriously when our former aged striker said this: We’re lucky to have Moyesie,

Harry Diamond et al, can we not turn this feature into arselicking central. Would you please get Neville Southall on board for interviews, someone who says it as it is and is the most recent true Everton legend.
John Collins
10 Posted 02/07/2026 at 00:12:49
Posting on holiday, sitting in a bar pissed after midnight. Your company must be thrilled.
Let me know where you are, I'll shoot over for a bevvy, we can compare posts. Mate.
Brendan McLaughlin
11 Posted 03/07/2026 at 06:05:04
Johnl #10

Company was in bed early as we head home today.

It's 7AM here... on reflection "pissed" was a stretch.
John Collins
12 Posted 03/07/2026 at 07:42:34
I thought you were pissed Brendan as you got carried away on the other thread?
Harry Diamond
Editorial Team
13 Posted 03/07/2026 at 08:34:52
Paul (9)

We've reached out to Neville's camp so will keep you posted. Hoping to finalise a pipeline of guests for the upcoming months.

Yak's definitely a Moyes fan though so brace yourself for when the remaining content comes out...
John Collins
14 Posted 03/07/2026 at 08:38:13
Be interested in Nevs comments re the accepted league finishing positions and the acceptance of the manager that we can't compete with other clubs in the league.
Paul Griffiths
15 Posted 03/07/2026 at 08:47:26
Great stuff Harry. I really hope NS says yes. Thanks for trying.
Phil Roberts
16 Posted 03/07/2026 at 08:54:42
Strewth - we are a serious bunch on here. Perhaps it is my Merseyside sense of humour, moulded through many years of supporting Everton.
I realised I had a choice - I could be depressed or I could see something funny in everything.
I chose the latter.
As Paul M corrected it later - it was more the humour of the way he said it originally and I was just having a little joke about the way he phrased the comment.

Interesting - the anti-Moyes does not mention KDH and Grealish as being signed and then sitting on the bench all season.
John Collins
17 Posted 03/07/2026 at 09:24:13
Merseyside Phil?
Paul Griffiths
18 Posted 03/07/2026 at 19:56:04
Well spotted John

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