An in-depth look into our seventh summer recruit, Charlie Hughes...
Born in Golborne, Wigan, Charlie Hughes began his youth career at Manchester City in 2009. Spending four years with the Citizens, the defender made the switch to fellow Premier League giants Liverpool in 2013 before moving to his boyhood club Wigan Athletic in 2017 as an Under-15.
Making 14 starts in his first year as a scholar, Hughes was key in helping Wigan Under-18s retain the Professional Development League North title before winning the national final against Charlton Athletic.
Appointed Under-18s captain in his second year as a scholar, Hughes was named in a first-team squad for the first time as an unused substitute in a penalty shootout defeat against Wolves Under-21s in the EFL Trophy in August 2021. Eight days later, the defender was rewarded with his first professional contract.
His continuing outstanding leadership qualities and ball-playing abilities shone through with both the Under-18s and Under-21s before being handed his senior debut in January 2022. Coming off the bench in the 33rd minute, Hughes recorded an assist in his first senior outing in a 1-0 win over Arsenal Under-21s in the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy, setting up Divin Baningime’s winner.
Following the conclusion of his scholarship, the defender made his first start for the Latics at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, playing the full game in a narrow 1-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup first round against Fleetwood Town in August 2022.
Making his league debut on Boxing Day 2022 against Middlesbrough in the Championship, Hughes was a regular presence in the Wigan defence in the second half of the season. Scoring his first senior goal in a 1-1 draw away at Reading in April 2023, the defender could not help Wigan avoid the drop to League One. The defender did make 23 appearances in all competitions for the first team, signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract in February 2023.
Last season saw Hughes continue his development firmly in the first-team picture for ex-Tiger Shaun Maloney’s side, despite being only 19 years of age. Captaining the team for the first time against Wrexham in the EFL Cup in August, four days later proved to be a big day for Hughes. Scoring in a 2-1 win over Northampton Town, it was also announced that Hughes had penned an improved contract until the end of the 2027/28 season.
Recording an assist in a 2-1 win over Cambridge United in his first league game as Wigan captain, Hughes featured 51 times in all competitions, scoring four goals and recording one assist, captaining the side 18 times. His impressive performances saw him nominated for League One Young Player of the Year alongside Ronnie Edwards and Karamoko Dembélé, as well as winning Wigan’s Future Fund Player of the Year award.
Featuring in the 2024/25 season opener against Charlton, Hughes leaves his boyhood club after 76 appearances, scoring five goals and recording two assists.
Internationally, the 20-year-old has represented England Under-20s three times in his career, earning his first cap in the Under-20 Elite League group fixture against Italy in November 2023. In June 2024, Hughes earned his most two most recent caps for England in friendly matches against Sweden and Republic of Ireland.