According to some football outlets, Arsenal has moved for Bologna’s full-back Aaron Hickey for €20m. The 19-year-old versatile full-back has continued to attract several European top sides with his impressive run of games with the Serie A side Bologna.
The young, promising, versatile teenager can play left-back or right-back. He has played more minutes than any teenager in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season.
Napoli & Juventus are the clear direct opponents to Arsenal’s bid. While Milan is caught in limbo without PSG coming for Theo.
At 16-yrs-old, Hickey made his debut for his boyhood Scottish club Hearts in a 2–1 loss away to Aberdeen on 10th May 2019. In Hickey’s first game after the 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone in May 2019, his manager Daniel Stendel spoke highly of the teenager, where he told the Hearts website: “all the Hearts players should be showing the bravery Hickey is displaying.”
He continued: “In the second half, Aaron Hickey showed he wants to play offensively, he tried to play cross balls and push our game in front and he’s the youngest player on the pitch. This is a sign for everyone to take note, that the youngest player on the pitch played with the most bravery.”
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.
As a player, he is comfortable on the ball and gets about the midfield area well. He has a decent range of passing and is ambidextrous with his feet. Hickey is versatile, quick, shrewd defensively, and has been praised to look like the perfect modern full-back. He had seldomly appeared at right-back, right wing-back, and center-back, not looking out of place in any role.
He was a member of the Scotland under-17 squad, coached by Brian McLaughlin, and has been called up twice in 2019. He has since been called up to the under-19s during the 19-20 season.
This season, Hickey has unsurprisingly shunned in Serie A, going forward he has managed to score five goals for Bologna while being a consistent outlet for crosses deadly crosses into the box. Nevertheless, his attacking penchant has not been at the expense of his defensive displays considering his positional play and his knack for an interception are also impressive.
Arsenal has suffered immensely with the absence of Kieran Tierney. Hickey’s compatriot has been out of action since the last international competition involvement for his country and his injury record hasn’t been impressive enough thus far.
Despite having Nuno Tavares to fill up the left-back position, the Portuguese U-21 player hasn’t been able to ooze enough confidence on the ball. His game has been inconsistent in both attack and defence.
The latter has been his weakest attribute, considering his immense pace, agility, athleticism, and power, he hasn’t been able to hold his own against the opposition.
Hickey is tied with Bologna until the summer of 2024, hence, the club is reportedly asking for €20 million (£18 million) for his signature this summer.
Given his bravery, age, experience, and technical qualities with the ball, it’s not surprising to see why Arteta and Edu have been attracted to the prospect of signing Hickey. With the genuineness of Arsenal’s interest in the left-back, Hickey’s future and development might continue with the Gunners, if they can successfully beat off all other suitors.
