Everton are on the verge of completing a double transfer coup, with deals close for Chelsea winger Tyrique George and Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney — a clear signal of David Moyes’ intent to reshape his squad as the club looks to build on last season’s survival.
George, 20, spent the second half of last season on loan at Goodison Park, making 11 appearances and starting once. Moyes was sufficiently impressed to push for a permanent move, describing the winger in May as “an excellent boy” with “an excellent work-rate”. The initial loan included a £25m option to buy, but Everton have renegotiated the fee to one with add-ons, bringing the price down.
“Everton close in on transfers for Chelsea's Tyrique George and Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney.”
Meanwhile, Hackney is set to become the club’s first summer signing. The 24-year-old midfielder was integral to Middlesbrough’s promotion push, which ended in heartbreak when they lost to Hull City in the play-off final at Wembley last month. With one year left on his Boro contract, the final fee is still being discussed but sources say it will be at least £16m. Hackney, who joined Middlesbrough’s academy at under-10 level and was born in Redcar, had been linked with Crystal Palace but was keen to work with Moyes at Everton.
The double swoop comes as Everton finalise a £16m deal for Hackney, while attacking midfielder Merlin Rohl is also set to make his loan move permanent from SC Freiburg following a successful spell. The departures of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Seamus Coleman after their contracts expired underline the transition Moyes is overseeing.
George, who came through Chelsea’s academy, has been available for transfer for the past 12 months. He held talks with RB Leipzig last summer, while a £22m move to Fulham collapsed on transfer deadline day in September 2025.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are continuing their rebuild under new manager Xabi Alonso. They have signed Marco Palestra from Atalanta and retain interest in Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, Como’s Jacobo Ramon and Rayo Vallecano full-back Pep Chavarria. But the club are also looking to reduce the size of their squad after finishing 10th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for European competition — meaning fewer matches and reduced revenue from broadcasting and matchdays. Chelsea remain under a Uefa settlement agreement for the next three seasons after breaching financial regulations last summer.
Player sales are therefore likely, with Real Madrid interested in Enzo Fernandez, while Como and Inter Milan are among the clubs keen on Trevoh Chalobah. The futures of Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana also remain uncertain, along with forwards Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap.
For Everton, the imminent arrivals of George and Hackney represent a statement of ambition — but with work still to be done on the finer details, both deals will need to clear the final hurdles before Moyes can fully turn his attention to the season ahead.