Everton Near Tyrique George and Hayden Hackney Deals

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

The Guardian reports that Everton are close to agreeing a fee with Chelsea for winger Tyrique George, while Hayden Hackney is putting the finishing touches to a move from Middlesbrough. The key wording is important: George’s deal is close rather than complete, and Hackney’s move is described as being in its final stages, with a medical expected.

George is already familiar to Everton. The Guardian says he joined on loan from Chelsea in February last season and made 11 appearances for the club. That loan included an option for Everton to buy him permanently for £25m, but Everton did not activate it. Despite that, David Moyes still wants to secure the England Under-21 international’s services.

Why it matters:

This is a squad-building story rather than a confirmed transfer announcement. Everton appear to be trying to convert a known loan player into a permanent asset while also adding Hackney from Middlesbrough. The practical value is clarity: George has already spent time inside the club environment, and Hackney’s move is advanced enough to be described as close to completion.

For tournament and season-planning purposes, these are early-window signals about Everton’s direction. A winger and a midfielder address different layers of the squad. George would affect wide attacking depth, while Hackney’s arrival would matter more for central structure and rotation. The Guardian’s report does not provide tactical promises from Moyes, so the safer read is about options rather than guaranteed roles.

What changed:

The George detail is the most nuanced. Everton had a £25m option but chose not to trigger it. Now they are still pursuing him, apparently through a fresh negotiation with Chelsea. That suggests the club’s interest survived the decision not to use the original mechanism, though the final fee and terms are not confirmed in the supplied source.

What to watch:

The medical for Hackney is the obvious checkpoint, followed by formal club announcements if either deal is completed. For George, the next important detail is whether Everton and Chelsea agree a fee and whether the permanent transfer goes through after the earlier option was left unused.

Confidence:

Confirmed by The Guardian source: Everton are close to agreeing a fee for Tyrique George, George made 11 appearances for Everton on loan last season, the loan had a £25m option that was not activated, Moyes still wants him, and Hayden Hackney is close to a Middlesbrough move with a medical expected. Still needing follow-up: final fees, contract length, medical outcome, and official confirmation from the clubs.