Elise Hughes

Last updated

Elise Hughes
Elise Hughes Lewes FC Women 2 Charlton Ath Women 0 17 10 2021-597 (cropped).jpg
Hughes playing for Charlton Athletic in October 2021
Personal information
Full name Elise Anna Hughes
Date of birth (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth Hawarden, Wales
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Crystal Palace
Number 9
Youth career
Northop Hall Girls F.C.
Everton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2021 Everton 22 (0)
2020Bristol City (loan) 3 (0)
2020–2021Blackburn Rovers (loan) 19 (5)
2021–2022 Charlton Athletic 19 (5)
2022– Crystal Palace 48 (22)
International career
Wales U16
2017–2018 Wales U17 8 (3)
2018 Wales U19 4 (1)
2019– Wales 31 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 May 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 June 2025

Elise Anna Hughes (born 15 April 2001) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Crystal Palace and the Welsh national team.

Contents

Early life

Hughes was born in Hawarden, Flintshire. [1] Her grandfather David and father Peter were both footballers. [1] The family supports Everton. [1]

Club career

Hughes came through Everton's Regional Talent Centre. [1] In February 2018, Hughes made her first team debut for Everton in a 1–0 loss against Arsenal at 16 years old. [1] Hughes scored her first professional goal in a derby win against Liverpool during the group stage of the FA WSL Cup. [2]

On 4 January 2020, Hughes joined Bristol City on loan for the rest of the season. [3] However, Hughes returned to Everton on 30 January to rehabilitate after suffering an ACL injury. [4]

In 2023-24, Hughes scored 16 goals in 21 games for Crystal Palace, winning the Championship Golden Boot as Palace won promotion to the WSL, [5] however she suffered another ACL injury playing against Lewes in the penultimate game of the season. [6]

Elise is a UEFA Licence Holder and is involved in coaching her local club, Connah's Quay Nomads. [7]

International career

Hughes has made appearances for the Wales women's national football team at the under-16 and under-17 levels. [1] She has been called up several times to the senior team, and made her senior debut 5 March 2018 in the Cyprus Cup against Switzerland. [8] [9] Elise now has 31 caps from Cymru and has scored 3 goals, the first of which was scored against Iceland in 2023 in the UEFA Women's Nations League. She suffered from an ACL which meant she was unable to play for many of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifiers. [10]

In June 2025, Hughes was named in Wales' squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2025. [11]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 23 April 2025 [12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Everton 2017–18 Women's Super League 60000060
2018–19 1201011141
2019–20 40004181
2020–21 00000000
Total2201052282
Bristol City (loan) 2019–20 Women's Super League 30000030
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2020–21 Women's Championship 1952121237
Charlton Athletic 2021–22 1952032247
Crystal Palace 2022–23 2161030256
2023–24 211621332620
2024-25 Women's Super League 60200080
Total482251635926
Career total1113210216813742

    International

    As of matches played 3 June 2025, statistics from the Football Association of Wales [13]
    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Wales 201830
    201960
    202010
    202110
    202230
    202381
    202432
    202550
    Total313
    Scores and results list Wales's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hughes goal.
    List of international goals scored by Elise Hughes
    No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    11 December 2023 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 1–21–2 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League
    28 April 2024 Zahir Pajaziti Stadium, Podujeva, Kosovo Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 5–06–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying
    36–0

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Elise Hughes: The teenager starring for Wales & Everton". 3 April 2019 via www.bbc.co.uk.
    2. "Girlhood Blue Hughes Revels In Derby Goal". www.evertonfc.com. 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    3. "Hughes joins City Women". www.bcfc.co.uk.
    4. "Sargeant and Hughes sidelined with ACL injuries". Bristol City.
    5. "Crystal Palace Women promoted to Women's Super League after clinching Women's Championship title". Sky Sports.
    6. "Wales forward Hughes suffers serious knee injury". BBC Sport.
    7. Julie, Hopp- (25 January 2024). "Cymru forward Elise Hughes inspires next generation of footballers from Connah's Quay". Genero Adran Leagues. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
    8. Dave Jones (13 February 2018). "Flintshire's Elise Hughes in full Wales Women's football squad for Cyprus Cup". www.dailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
    9. "Cyprus Cup: Wales 0–0 Switzerland". www.bbc.co.uk. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
    10. "Wales forward Hughes suffers serious knee injury". BBC Sport.
    11. "Cymru squad announced for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 finals". Football Association of Wales. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
    12. "Wales - E. Hughes - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
    13. "Wales - E. Hughes - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 May 2024.