Born in Redcar, Hayden joined the Boro Academy at Under-10 level and represented England Under-15s.

He made five appearances for our U18s when a schoolboy in the 2017/18 season while his first as a scholar, 2018/19, was a notable one that saw him make 30 appearances across three competitions - 20 with the U18s, nine with the U23s and one in the Checkatrade Trophy.

In November 2018, Hayden scored the winner against Burton Albion to give us our first-ever win in the Checkatrade (Football League) Trophy.

The midfielder was rewarded with his first professional contract in 2019 and travelled with the senior side on a handful of occasions in the subsequent campaign.

Hayden made his senior debut when he started our FA Cup third round match against Brentford in January 2021.

He signed a new contract in May 2021, and joined Scunthorpe United on loan in August of the same year, clocking up 28 League Two appearances after his short-term deal was extended until the end of the season.

Hayden returned to Boro at the start of the 2022/23 campaign and was handed his Championship debut by Leo Percovich in a 1-0 home win over Birmingham City.

Now a regular member of the match-day squad, Hayden netted his first Boro goal, a right-footed strike from outside the area, in a 4-1 victory at Wigan Athletic.

He extended his stay with a new three-and-a-half-year deal in December 2022.

After becoming a mainstay in the 2022/23 season, Hayden carried on his form into the 2023/24 campaign, featuring in 21 games for Michael Carrick.

Arguably his biggest moment in a Boro shirt came in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea. The local lad managed to get the only goal of the game in front of a sold-out Riverside.

In September 2023, Hayden received his first Three Lions call-up to the Under-21s squad in the European qualifiers.

The midfielder featured five times for his country and registered an assist in a game against Serbia.