Who is Aaron Hickey? The €24m Bologna starlet set to join Arsenal

Martin Macdonald

16 May 2022 09:05 CDT
6 min read

Unlike most young Scottish players, Aaron Hickey didn’t decide to test his ambition with a move to English football when he left Hearts in 2020.

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Instead, the young full-back opted for Serie A side Bologna, as he took off on the path less travelled and hoped to develop his talents in Italian football.

Hickey quickly making a name for himself on the continent and he is now on the brink of a €24 million move to Arsenal.

He recently became the first Scottish player to score five goals in Serie A since Graeme Souness achieved the feat for Sampdoria in 1984-85.

What position does Hickey play in?

Hickey plays as a left-back or wing-back, but he can also feature on the opposite flank and even in defensive midfield.

How good is Hickey?

Hickey is viewed as one of the most promising defenders to come through Scottish football in years.

He made his senior debut for Hearts in the second-last game of the 2018/19 Scottish Premiership season, coming on as a substitute against Aberdeen, and a few weeks later became the youngest player in 11 years to feature in a Scottish Cup final as Hearts played Celtic.

Hickey is noted for intelligence on the ball as well as his athleticism and has been compared to fellow Scottish left-back Andy Robertson.

"Even though he currently plays as a left-back, former Hearts boss Craig Levein suggested his talents could be better suited to midfield, saying: "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.

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"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."

His composure on the ball is one of the reasons why many see him as a future midfielder, though he does utilise this quality at left-back too. He is just as good with both feet, going inside and outside.

Hickey's development has not been without its hitches, though, as he and the entire Bologna team were reprimanded for their defending in a defeat against Inter.

However, he has recovered from a small period of bad press and again looks to be playing with freedom.

He has made more appearances than any other teenager in Serie A this campaign and is one of only three teens to play regularly in the league.

What clubs are interested in Hickey?

Hickey has been interesting a number of top clubs, both in the Premier League and in Serie A.

Top Serie A sides Milan and Juventus watched him closely, while Aston Villa and Newcastle both monitored him in England.

But it is Arsenal, who are in the market for a versatile left-back who can also play on the right, who are closing in on a €24 million deal for Hickey.