Full-back heads to England
Brentford have confirmed the signing of Bologna defender Aaron Hickey as their first major piece of business in this summer’s transfer window. The Premier League side announced the deal on Saturday morning, following the Scotland international signing a four-year deal with the Bees. For a reported transfer fee of £18.9 million (€22m), Hickey makes the move from Serie A as Brentford’s most expensive signing ever.
“Aaron is a rare thing in modern football in that he is equally good with both feet,” said Brentford head coach Thomas Frank on the club website. “He is technically very sound and is good when he has the ball in tight areas. He is an attacking full back that has good creativity, he is a great crosser of the ball, and scored goals in Serie A last year. Having played two years in Italy, we know he will have good defensive traits. There are areas to improve and we are looking forward to having him with us so we can be part of his development as a player.”
Such a high transfer fee undoubtedly goes some way to illustrating the progress Hickey has made in the Italian top flight, just two years after departing Scottish Premiership side Hearts for a paltry sum of £1.53m (€1.7m). Since then the full-back, who can play on either flank with relative ease, has made no less than 48 appearances for his Serie A side, as well as four caps for the Scotland international team. Hickey currently has a market value of €18m. Impressive performances in Scotland and now Italy have meant that Hickey has found himself linked to a number of Europe’s biggest clubs for some time. In late 2020, prior to his move to Italy, the young Scot was heavily linked with moves to Bayern Munich and Aston Villa. And, just a few months ago, Arsenal were reportedly keen on making a move for the 20-year-old talent.
Bologna and Scotland left-back Aaron Hickey is on the cusp of a move to Premier League side Brentford, according to Sky Sports
The defender has gone from strength to strength over the past two years pic.twitter.com/p5uqankB53
— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) July 5, 2022
Mbuemo, Toney and now Hickey – Scot joins impressive project at Brentford
However, Hickey has now opted for a move to Brentford, where the young star has likely been convinced of a project that has not only seen the club make smart moves in the transfer window but also develop young players into bonafide Premier League stars. And in turn earned the relatively small club a comfortable footing in the English top-flight. Whether it be Ivan Toney, who joined the club for just €5.6m but is now valued at €35m, Bryan Mbeumo (signed for €6.5m, valued at €22m), Rico Henry (signed for €1.8m, valued at €20m) or countless others in the squad, Hickey would not only join Brentford as their record signing but could also go on to become their biggest success story to date.
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