Aaron Hickey

Aaron Hickey is a 24-year-old Scottish right back currently playing for Brentford in the Premier League. He came through the youth ranks in Scotland before moving to Bologna, where consistent performances earned him a move to Brentford in the summer of 2022. Known for his energy in wide areas and his ability to contribute in both defensive and attacking phases, Hickey has established himself as a reliable option at right back for the Bees when fit and available.

The 2025/26 season has been a stop-start one for Hickey. Across 18 appearances he has accumulated just 617 minutes, pointing to a campaign shaped by rotation and possible fitness interruptions rather than sustained run in the side. His average rating of 6.62 reflects solid rather than standout contributions, and his last recorded outing saw him start against Brighton on 21 February before being withdrawn at half-time in a 2-0 home defeat. He was an unused or minimal-minutes substitute in the two matches either side of that fixture, against Newcastle and Arsenal, suggesting Thomas Frank has been managing his involvement carefully.

At international level, Hickey has been part of the Scotland setup and represents one of the more technically accomplished full backs in the national pool. His club career trajectory, from Hearts to Bologna to the Premier League, reflects a player who has developed steadily, and at 24 he is entering what should be his peak years. Brentford's compact, well-organised style suits his profile, and when fully integrated into the starting eleven he offers genuine width and defensive discipline on the right flank. SportSignals' AI analysis engine has tracked several Brentford matches this season, noting the team's capacity to compete against top-half opposition despite limited resources.

In Hickey's next appearance, the key things to observe are whether he completes a full 90 minutes, which would signal he has regained Frank's full confidence, and how he handles the defensive demands of his position against a Premier League attack. His ability to recover quickly and press high will be central to how Brentford look to build from the back.