Former Arsenal midfielder Isaac Hayden is reportedly seeking a move away from Newcastle United this summer for ‘exceptional family reasons’.
Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden has handed in a transfer request at the club, as he seeks a return down south from the Tyneside, as per reports from the Mirror.
The 23-year old is understood to be keen on leaving the St. James’ Park this summer and move further down south, due to exceptional family reasons. And Hayden is believed to have conveyed as much to the Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez in a private conversation earlier this week.
Hayden, who was born in Chelmsford, started off his footballing journey with Southend United, before joining the Arsenal academy at the age of 13. Having moved to the North London club, the midfielder progressed rapidly through the youth ranks and went on to make his first-team debut for the Gunners in a League Cup match against West Bromwich Albion in September 2013, at the age of 18 years.
However, the midfielder’s career at the Emirates never really took off, as he made just one more appearance for the Arsenal senior team, a year after his debut, in another League Cup outing, this time against Southampton.
Hayden left Arsenal to join Hull City on loan for the 2015/16 campaign, and managed to impress under then Tigers’ manager Steve Bruce, before sealing a permanent move away from the Gunners the subsequent summer, signing a five-year contract with Newcastle in July 2016.
Since moving to the Tyneside outfit, Hayden has seen his game go from strength to strength under the watchful eye of Benitez. The former England U-21 international played an integral role in Newcastle’s return to the Premier League from the second division in 2017. And he went on to have an impressive debut campaign in the English top-flight, featuring 26 times, in which he managed to net a goal as well.
The former Arsenal man’s transfer request will come as a blow for Newcastle United, who have recently sold one of their midfielders, Mikel Merino, to Spanish side Real Betis only a year after signing him. While Ki Sung-yeung has arrived on a free transfer from Swansea City this summer, Hayden’s potential departure will leave Benitez in a difficult position, given the tight financial constraints that he has to operate within.
It is being claimed that Newcastle’s fellow Premier League outfit, Brighton & Hove Albion are interested in signing the Englishman this summer. But, it remains to be seen if the Magpies are willing to grant the former Arsenal starlet’s wishes, who still has three years left on his contract with the club.
