Aaron Hickey

Aaron Hickey (born 10 June 2002) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays a left-back or central midfielder for Serie A club Bologna.

Aaron Hickey
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Left-back, central midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Bologna
Number 3
Youth career
Heart of Midlothian
Celtic
2018–2019 Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Heart of Midlothian 24 (1)
2020– Bologna 10 (0)
National team
2019– Scotland U17 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:59, 27 January 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

After spending time in the youth system at Heart of Midlothian, Hickey had a spell with the academy teams at Celtic. After four years at Celtic he chose to return to Hearts in 2018, with Celtic receiving 30% of a future transfer fee.[1][2]

Hearts

On 10 May 2019, Hickey made his debut for the club in a 2–1 loss away to Aberdeen, in the penultimate game of the 2018–19 season.[2][3] On 25 May 2019, Hickey started in the 2019 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic, becoming the youngest player to appear in the final since John Fleck in 2008.[4]

On 22 September 2019, he scored his first senior goal, the winner in the Edinburgh derby as Hearts won 2–1 away at Hibernian.[5]

In August 2020 he was linked with a transfer away from the club, with interest from German club Bayern Munich,[6][7][8] Italian club Bologna,[9][10] English club Aston Villa,[11] and French club Lyon.[12] Hearts manager Craig Levein also revealed that Celtic had made "five or six" attempts to sign Hickey.[13] Towards the end of the month the BBC reported that Bologna had made the first official bid for Hickey,[14] although Hearts said that the offer was too low.[15]

Bologna

Bologna made an updated offer for Hickey, which was accepted by Hearts on 8 September 2020.[16] On 24 September 2020, Hickey completed a moved to Serie A side Bologna for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1.5 million.[17][18][19] He said he chose Bologna over Bayern due to the Italian club's family feel, and their intention to use him in their first-team.[2] Due to the suspension of regular left-back Mitchell Dijks,[20] Hickey made his first Serie A appearance on 28 September in a 4–1 win against Parma.[21]

International career

Hickey has represented Scotland U17, making his debut for the side in a 0–0 draw against France U17 on 5 February 2019.[22]

He was selected in the Scotland U21 squad for the first time in November 2020.[23]

Style of play

Primarily a left-back, Hickey can also play as a central midfielder.[2] Former Hearts manager Craig Levein described Hickey by saying that "he's got really good defensive qualities but I don't know if he'll end up being a full-back, he might end up going back into midfield [...] he could be a fantastic holding midfielder with his great awareness of danger and his ability to get out of tight situations with the ball at his feet".[2] Levein has also said that Hickey is shy, quiet, and reserved.[2]

Hearts captain Steven Naismith has praised Hickey's intelligence, while Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson praised his maturity, saying that "he's like a 24- or 25-year-old in an 18-year-old's body [...] he's very mature for his age, he's composed, has good physique, ticks all the boxes".[2]

Hickey has been compared to fellow Scottish left-back Andy Robertson, although Hickey has played down the links.[24]

Personal life

On 13 December 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19.[25]

Career statistics
As of 27 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Heart of Midlothian 2018–19[26] Scottish Premiership 2010000030
2019–20[27] Scottish Premiership 221206000301
Total 241306000331
Bologna 2020–21[28] Serie A 100100000110
Career total 341406000441

References
  1. "Manchester City plot Aaron Hickey swoop". Evening Times.
  2. "The Scot who turned down Bayern" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  3. "Aaron Hickey". Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. "Hearts team news: 16-year-old Aaron Hickey starts but Uche Ikpeazu on bench". Edinburgh Evening News. 25 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  5. "Hibs 1–2 Hearts: Aaron Hickey nets late Edinburgh derby winner". 22 September 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "Aaron Hickey: Hearts defender very impressed by Bayern Munich visit". 10 August 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. "Hearts' Aaron Hickey cannot turn down chance to become the next Alphonso Davies". www.scotsman.com.
  8. "Bayern Munich closing in on deals for Celtic youngster and Aaron Hickey". HeraldScotland.
  9. "Aaron Hickey: Bologna latest in long line of clubs to be linked with Hearts starlet". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
  10. Fairnie, Robert (17 August 2020). "Bologna expecting Aaron Hickey decision today as Italian side await answer". edinburghlive.
  11. "Aaron Hickey: Bayern Munich, Bologna & Aston Villa chasing Hearts teenager". 2 August 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. McDermott, Scott (15 August 2020). "Aaron Hickey transfer latest as Lyon join race for Hearts youngster9i". Daily Record.
  13. "Celtic tried to sign Hickey – Levein" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. "Aaron Hickey: Bologna steal march on Bayern Munich after making Hearts offer". 27 August 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  15. "Bologna's Aaron Hickey bid 'nowhere near' Hearts' valuation". 28 August 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. "Hearts accept Bologna's Hickey bid" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. "Aaron Hickey: Bologna sign teenager from Hearts". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  18. "Hickey to Bologna". BolognaFC. 24 September 2020.
  19. "Facing Zlatan would be crazy – Hickey" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  20. Sked, Joel (28 September 2020). "Ex-Hearts star Aaron Hickey in line for Bologna debut tonight against Parma - and how fans can watch him in action". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  21. "Aaron Hickey: Sinisa Mihajlovic says Scot has 'great future' after Bologna debut". BBC Sport. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  22. "Aaron Hickey". Scottish FA. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  23. Lindsay, Clive (28 October 2020). "Aaron Hickey: Bologna left-back given first Scotland Under-21 call-up". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  24. "Robertson comparison 'unrealistic' - Hickey" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  25. "Official statement". BolognaFC. 13 December 2020.
  26. "Games played by Aaron Hickey in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  27. "Games played by Aaron Hickey in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  28. Aaron Hickey at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
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