Derby County

Hanson was a product of the Derby County academy with more than ten years at the club.^[3] He made his Football League debut for the Rams on 14 March 2015, starting against Norwich City in a 1–1 away draw at Carrow Road.^[4] In the 66th minute, with Derby 1–0 down, he swung in a corner kick and seemed to have scored the equalizing goal on his debut, but it was given as an own goal by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy, who fumbled it over the line.^[5] Derby later appealed the decision with the Football League, and the goal was credited to Hanson on 19 March,^[6] meaning that he had scored for the club on his professional debut. He played one more match in the 2014–15 season, playing 70 minutes in a 1–0 home defeat to Middlesbrough on 17 March.

Hanson played more regularly in the 2015–16 season; his first appearance came on 15 August, when he played for 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic, at the base of Derby's midfield three. He started again on 18 August against Middlesbrough but had to be withdrawn after 39 minutes because of injury. He missed the next match because of it, but returned for the following match, a 2–1 home defeat to Leeds United on 29 August. He signed a new three-year contract with Derby on 7 September^[7] after which he made five more league appearances, all of them as a substitute.

Oxford United

Hanson signed for Oxford United on 9 August 2018, for an undisclosed fee, on a four-year contract.^[8][9] He made his debut in a 4–1 away defeat at Portsmouth in League One, conceding a penalty that was saved by keeper Jonathan Mitchell.^[10] Hanson was released by the club upon the end of his contract at the end of the 2021–22 season.^[11]

Non-league career

After a year out of the game, Hanson was signed by Northern Premier League club Ilkeston Town in the summer of 2023.^[12] On 1 November 2023, Hanson joined Southern League Premier Division Central club Long Eaton United on loan.^[13]