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Will Hughes

Updated: Wikipedia source

Will Hughes

William James Hughes (born 17 April 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Crystal Palace. Having graduated a scholarship with Derby County, Hughes made his first team breakthrough during the 2012–13 season; his performances resulted in him earning attraction from multiple clubs across Europe. Hughes made his move to the Premier League with Watford in 2017, helping the Hornets reach the FA Cup final in 2019 and maintain top-flight football for three seasons. Following Watford's relegation in 2020, Hughes played a central role in their promotion campaign the following season. In 2021, he joined Crystal Palace, where he won the FA Cup in 2025.

Infobox

2011
Derby County
2012
England U17
Full name
William James Hughes
Date of birth
(1995-04-17) 17 April 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth
Weybridge, England
Height
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position
Central midfielder
Current team
Crystal Palace
Number
19
2007–2011
Mickleover Jubilee
Years
Team
2011–2017
Derby County
2017–2021
Watford
2021–
Crystal Palace
2012–2017
England U21

Tables

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition · Career statistics
Division
Division
Club
Division
Season
Apps
League
Goals
League
Apps
League
Goals
FA Cup
Apps
FA Cup
Goals
League Cup
Apps
League Cup
Goals
Europe
Apps
Europe
Goals
Other
Apps
Other
Goals
Derby County
Derby County
Club
Derby County
Season
2011–12
League
Championship
League
3
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Europe
—
Europe
—
Other
3
Other
0
2012–13
2012–13
Club
2012–13
Season
Championship
League
35
League
2
League
2
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
38
Other
2
2013–14
2013–14
Club
2013–14
Season
Championship
League
41
League
3
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
3
League Cup
1
League Cup
—
Europe
3
Europe
1
Other
48
Other
5
2014–15
2014–15
Club
2014–15
Season
Championship
League
42
League
2
League
1
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
5
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
48
Other
3
2015–16
2015–16
Club
2015–16
Season
Championship
League
6
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
2
Europe
0
Other
8
Other
0
2016–17
2016–17
Club
2016–17
Season
Championship
League
38
League
2
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
3
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
42
Other
2
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
165
League
9
League
5
League
1
FA Cup
12
FA Cup
1
League Cup
—
League Cup
5
Europe
1
Europe
187
Other
12
Watford
Watford
Club
Watford
Season
2017–18
League
Premier League
League
15
League
2
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Europe
—
Europe
—
Other
16
Other
2
2018–19
2018–19
Club
2018–19
Season
Premier League
League
32
League
2
League
6
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
40
Other
3
2019–20
2019–20
Club
2019–20
Season
Premier League
League
30
League
1
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
31
Other
1
2020–21
2020–21
Club
2020–21
Season
Championship
League
30
League
2
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
31
Other
2
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
107
League
7
League
7
League
1
FA Cup
4
FA Cup
0
League Cup
—
League Cup
—
Europe
118
Europe
8
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace
Club
Crystal Palace
Season
2021–22
League
Premier League
League
16
League
0
FA Cup
4
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Europe
—
Europe
—
Other
20
Other
1
2022–23
2022–23
Club
2022–23
Season
Premier League
League
27
League
1
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
30
Other
1
2023–24
2023–24
Club
2023–24
Season
Premier League
League
30
League
0
League
2
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
33
Other
0
2024–25
2024–25
Club
2024–25
Season
Premier League
League
33
League
0
League
4
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
4
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
41
Other
0
2025–26
2025–26
Club
2025–26
Season
Premier League
League
12
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
5
Europe
0
Europe
1
Other
0
Other
20
Total
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
118
League
1
League
11
League
1
FA Cup
9
FA Cup
0
League Cup
5
League Cup
0
Europe
1
Europe
0
Other
144
Other
2
Career total
Career total
Club
Career total
Season
390
League
17
League
23
League
3
FA Cup
25
FA Cup
1
League Cup
5
League Cup
0
Europe
6
Europe
1
Other
449
Other
22
Club
Season
League
FA Cup
League Cup
Europe
Other
Total
Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Derby County
2011–12
Championship
3
0
0
0
0
0
—
—
3
0
2012–13
Championship
35
2
2
0
1
0
—
—
38
2
2013–14
Championship
41
3
1
0
3
1
—
3
1
48
5
2014–15
Championship
42
2
1
1
5
0
—
—
48
3
2015–16
Championship
6
0
0
0
0
0
—
2
0
8
0
2016–17
Championship
38
2
1
0
3
0
—
—
42
2
Total
165
9
5
1
12
1
—
5
1
187
12
Watford
2017–18
Premier League
15
2
0
0
1
0
—
—
16
2
2018–19
Premier League
32
2
6
1
2
0
—
—
40
3
2019–20
Premier League
30
1
0
0
1
0
—
—
31
1
2020–21
Championship
30
2
1
0
0
0
—
—
31
2
Total
107
7
7
1
4
0
—
—
118
8
Crystal Palace
2021–22
Premier League
16
0
4
1
0
0
—
—
20
1
2022–23
Premier League
27
1
1
0
2
0
—
—
30
1
2023–24
Premier League
30
0
2
0
1
0
—
—
33
0
2024–25
Premier League
33
0
4
0
4
0
—
—
41
0
2025–26
Premier League
12
0
0
0
2
0
5
0
1
0
20
0
Total
118
1
11
1
9
0
5
0
1
0
144
2
Career total
390
17
23
3
25
1
5
0
6
1
449
22

References

  1. Appearances in Championship play-offs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  3. Appearance in FA Community Shield
  4. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists"
    https://www.premierleague.com/news/1697050
  5. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/players/will-hughes-238666/
  6. "Will Hughes: Overview"
    https://www.premierleague.com/players/8589/Will-Hughes/overview
  7. Derby Telegraph
    http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/story-13763744-detail/story.html?
  8. "Derby's Will Hughes – the Championship's latest sensation"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20769208
  9. "Will Hughes: Derby manager says interest inevitable"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/20330068
  10. "Official: Hughes Is A Hornet"
    https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/official-hughes-hornet
  11. Sport
    https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/man-city-complete-domestic-treble-with-fa-cup-win-20190518
  12. Watford Observer
    https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/18608578.watford-relegated-championship---went-wrong/
  13. NBC Sports
    https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2021/04/24/watford-promoted-premier-league/
  14. Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013
  15. The Times
    https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/will-hughes-macho-dressing-room-culture-makes-it-hard-to-open-up-ml7mhr8kx
  16. Derby Telegraph
    https://archive.today/20130505100514/http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Repton-denied-decider/story-11648279-detail/story.html
  17. "Derby County Res 6–1 Walsall Res"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2444297,00.html
  18. "Derby County Res 1–0 Port Vale Res"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2500904,00.html?
  19. "Peterborough United 3 – 2 Derby County"
    http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110116024428/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10270%7E58235%2C00.html
  20. Derby Telegraph
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120422082108/http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Clough-cast-net-Green-turns-offer/story-15866524-detail/story.html
  21. "Portsmouth 1–2 Derby County"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131223141738/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10270~59014,00.html
  22. "Derby County 1–1 Peterborough United"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10270~59299,00.html
  23. "Clough Impressed By Hughes Display"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120502201320/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2754789,00.html
  24. "Bryson Named Club Player of the Year"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2754942,00.html
  25. Derby Telegraph
    https://archive.today/20130505154158/http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Hughes-frame-Derby-County-starting-line/story-16669813-detail/story.html
  26. "Derby 5–1 Watford"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19378170
  27. "Hughes Pens New Rams Deal"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/hughes-commits-to-the-rams-434969.aspx
  28. "Millwall 1–2 Derby"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20189961
  29. The Daily Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9673363/Derby-County-teenager-Will-Hughes-attracts-Premier-League-interest-ahead-of-possible-England-debut.html
  30. "No bids for promising Ram"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140106032138/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/no-bids-promising-ram-185755004.html
  31. "Hughes named Young Player of the Month"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130319215632/http://www.football-league.co.uk/championship/news/20121221/hughes-named-young-player-of-the-month_2293322_3015087
  32. Derby Telegraph
    http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Fulham-boss-Martin-Jol-10-eyes-Hughes/story-17691095-detail/story.html
  33. Derby Telegraph
    http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Midfielder-Hughes-ruled-Derby-County-s-tough/story-18265227-detail/story.html
  34. "Hughes Extends Derby Contract"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/hughes-extends-derby-contract-778500.aspx
  35. "Derby 3–1 Peterborough"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22133302
  36. "Keogh Named Club Player of the Year"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/keogh-named-club-player-of-the-year-803602.aspx
  37. Derby Telegraph
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130726153408/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Nigel-Clough-pondering-midfield-dilemma-Derby/story-19552961-detail/story.html
  38. "Derby 5–0 Brentford". BBC Sport. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23764109
  39. "Derby 1–3 Reading". BBC Sport. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24089713
  40. "Nigel Clough: Derby County sack manager after defeat at Forest". BBC Sport. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24320051
  41. "Nott'm Forest 1–0 Derby". BBC Sport. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24185008
  42. "Steve McClaren named as Derby County head coach"Steve McClaren named as Derby County head coach". BBC Sport. 30 Septemb
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24331558
  43. "Derby County 3–1 Leeds". BBC Sport. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24349291
  44. "Will Hughes Signs A New Long-Term Contract at Derby County"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/will-hughes-signs-a-new-long-term-contract-at-derby-county-1709157.aspx
  45. "Derby midfielder out for six months with knee injury"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33860485
  46. [1] [dead link]
    http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-County-Rams-ace-Hughes-contention-team/story-29069389-detail/story.html
  47. "Will Hughes transfer rumours and news"
    https://www.footballtransferleague.co.uk/players/will_hughes
  48. "Nigel Pearson: Derby County appoint former Leicester City boss as new manager"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36401972
  49. "Nigel Pearson: Derby County manager leaves by mutual consent"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37597454
  50. "Steve McClaren: Derby County reappoint former boss"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37630067
  51. "Will Hughes commits his future to Derby County"
    https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2017/01/will-hughes-commits-his-future-to-derby-county
  52. "Gary Rowett: Derby County appoint ex-Birmingham City boss as manager"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39255324
  53. "Rotherham United 1–1 Derby County"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39760412
  54. "Marco Silva makes Will Hughes his 1st Watford buy for reported £8M"
    https://www.thescore.com/epl/news/1324042-marco-silva-makes-will-hughes-his-1st-watford-buy-for-reported-8m
  55. "Watford 0–1 Stoke City"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41703862
  56. "Watford 2–0 West Ham United"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41958413
  57. The Sydney Morning Herald
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/watford-stage-classic-fa-cup-comeback-to-beat-wolves-in-semi-final-20190408-p51btx.html
  58. "Crystal Palace sign Will Hughes – News"
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-sign-will-hughes/2021-08-28/
  59. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/11/30/leeds-united-vs-crystal-palace-premier-league-live-score-latest/
  60. "Crystal Palace 4-0 Everton: Eagles fly past toffees to reach semi-finals"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60698109
  61. "Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest"
    https://www.premierleague.com/match/75285
  62. "Hughes triggers Palace contract extension"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c6pyv1kr4r1o
  63. "Will Hughes signs new Crystal Palace contract"
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/will-hughes-signs-new-crystal-palace-contract/
  64. "Happy birthday, Will Hughes!"
    https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/club/happy-birthday-will-hughes/
  65. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cm23zrkn7ryt#Line-ups
  66. "Bennett & Hughes Get England Call-Ups"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120125164720/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2579822,00.html
  67. "Bennett & Hughes Start in England U17 Win"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120209023731/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2601735,00.html
  68. "Hughes & Bennett Feature in England Defeat"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120209023731/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2601735,00.html
  69. "Hughes on England Standby"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/hughes-on-england-standby-333641.aspx
  70. "England U-21 ring changes for Northern Ireland friendly"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20255047
  71. "Hughes Gains England Under 21 Honours"
    http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/hughes-gains-england-under-21-honours-485320.aspx
  72. "Derby's Will Hughes can "come alive" for England Under-21s"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20272033
  73. "Will Hughes: England call surreal says Derby teenager"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20340777
  74. Hughes ineligible for Wales
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47950335
  75. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=141
  76. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=142
  77. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=143
  78. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=144
  79. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=145
  80. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=149
  81. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=150
  82. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=151
  83. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=152
  84. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=153
  85. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=154
  86. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=155
  87. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=156
  88. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=157
  89. Soccerbase
    https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62917&season_id=158
  90. "Manchester City 6–0 Watford"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48236232
  91. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cy7y0p1p7ezt#Report
  92. "Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27180793
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