"I'm delighted to be here," said Hackney. "As soon as I spoke to the manager David Moyes, as soon as I knew Everton were interested, to be honest, it was always going to be Everton. It's such a big club, with the new stadium and the direction it's going in. I just wanted to be part of that."

Manager David Moyes' influence proved decisive in Hackney's choice, with the midfielder confirming that early conversations with the Everton boss sealed the deal. The arrival of Hackney adds quality and depth to Everton's engine room as they look to build on their position in the Premier League.