Rhys Hughes (footballer)

Rhys Hughes

Personal information
Full name	Rhys Alex Hughes
Date of birth	(2001-09-21) 21 September 2001 (age 22) [1]
Place of birth	Wrexham, Wales
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2008–2020	Everton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Everton	0	(0)
2022–2024	Tranmere Rovers	18	(1)
2023	→ Chester (loan)	10	(2)
2023–2024	→ Curzon Ashton (loan)	27	(1)
International career‡
2017	Wales U17	3	(0)
2019	Wales U19	1	(0)
2020	Wales U20	1	(0)
2021–2022	Wales U21	10	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:45, 30 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:00, 14 June 2022 (UTC)

Rhys Alex Hughes (born 21 September 2001) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Curzon Ashton on loan from EFL League Two club Tranmere Rovers.

Club career

Everton

Hughes joined the Academy at Everton at the age of six. He moved into club digs at the age of fourteen, though still managed to go on to achieve four A and four A* grades at GCSE. ^[2] He signed a two-and-a-half year professional contract in January 2020, and scored three goals and provided six assists from fifteen league games for the under-18 team during the 2019–20 season. ^[3] He was promoted to the under-23 team at the end of the campaign; Hughes stated that "with Unsy, [assistant manager] John Ebbrell and [Under-23s coach] Franny Jeffers, it’s a really good place to improve". ^[4] He was named as the Keith Tamlin Award winner, an award which "represents all that is best in the Everton Youth Academy". ^[5] He was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for January 2021, having scored in a 1–1 draw with Liverpool U23. ^[6] However he was not offered a new contract when his deal expired in summer 2022. ^[7]

Tranmere Rovers

On 21 June 2022, Hughes signed a two-year contract with EFL League Two club Tranmere Rovers. ^[8] He made his debut for the club on 9 August, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Lee O'Connor in a 2–2 draw at Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup. ^[9] He scored his first career goal at Prenton Park on 4 October, in a 5–3 defeat to Leeds United U23 in the EFL Trophy. ^[10]

In January 2023, he joined National League North promotion challengers Chester on an initial 28-day loan. ^[11]

On 17 November 2023, Hughes joined National League North club Curzon Ashton on an initial one-month loan deal. ^[12]

Hughes was released at the end of the 2023–24 season. ^[13]

Style of play

Hughes is a midfielder with an excellent passing range and close ball control skills. ^[4] David Unsworth described him as "an outstanding footballer with great technique and a great set-ball delivery". ^[14]

Career statistics

As of 30 April 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Everton U21	2021–22 [15]	—	—		—		—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
Tranmere Rovers	2022–23 [16]	League Two	18	1	0	0	1	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	1	23	2
	2023–24 [17]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	2	0
	Total		18	1	0	0	1	0	6	1	25	2
Chester (loan)	2022–23 [18]	National League North	10	2	0	0	—		0	0	10	2
Curzon Ashton (loan)	2023–24 [18] [19]	National League North	27	1	0	0	—		5 [lower-alpha 2]	3	32	4
Career total			55	4	0	0	1	0	11	4	67	8

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Two appearances in FA Trophy, three appearances and three goals in Manchester Premier Cup

References

1. "Rhys Hughes - Midfielder - First Team - Tranmere Rovers Football Club". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
2. "Profile". toffeeweb.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
3. "Player Profiles | Everton Football Club". www.evertonfc.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
4. Lennox, Peter (2 October 2020). "Under-23s Midfielder Hughes Eager To Show Creative Quality". www.evertonfc.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
5. McNamara, Paul (11 June 2020). "Midfielder Hughes Claims Coveted Honour At Everton Academy Awards". www.evertonfc.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
6. "Everton Talent Nominated For PL2 Player Of The Month". www.evertonfc.com. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
7. Kenrick, Michael (21 June 2022). "Rhys Hughes joins Tranmere Rovers". toffeeweb.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
8. Shahaney, Pranav (21 June 2022). "Rhys Hughes seal Everton exit to sign two-year deal at Tranmere Rovers". Goodison News. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
9. "Accrington 2 - 2 Tranmere | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
10. "Tranmere Rovers 3-5 Leeds United U21s". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
11. "Rhys Hughes joins on loan from Tranmere". chesterfc.com. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
12. "Rhys Hughes joins Curzon Ashton on month loan". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
13. "2023/24 retained and released list". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
14. Carroll, Sam (1 June 2021). "Everton plan for 'outstanding' teen explained after transfer interest". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
15. "Games played by Rhys Hughes in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
16. "Games played by Rhys Hughes in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
17. "Games played by Rhys Hughes in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
18. Rhys Hughes at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
19. https://www.curzon-ashton.co.uk/teams/42677/player/r-hughes-3190746/86844