Derby County unearthed a gem of a midfielder - he is now starring in the Premier League | OneFootball

Will Hughes came through the youth ranks at Derby County and is currently starring in the Premier League for Crystal Palace

Will Hughes spent his entire youth career with Derby County, coming through the Rams' ranks to cement himself as a mainstay in the first team, and has since starred in the Premier League for both Watford and, most notably, Crystal Palace.

Will Hughes has become something of a household name at Selhurst Park over the past few years with his performances in midfield, but it was with Derby where he first made a name for himself.

Having come through the youth system at the Rams, Hughes graduated with a scholarship at the club, and made his debut for the club at just 16 years old in November 2011, coming on as a substitute in a 3-2 defeat to Peterborough United, having impressed in the academy.

It wouldn't be until the 2012/13 season that Hughes endured his real breakthrough year, playing 35 times in the Championship as a teenager in his first full professional season, scoring and assisting twice each.

He became renowned for his precise passing, quick footwork and vision in Derby colours, and courted interest from Premier League sides, who were keen to bring the teenager to the next level, but Hughes wasn't going anywhere just yet.

Will Hughes made his debut for Derby County aged just 16 and would make a significant profit for the Rams

Hughes' performances at the beginning of the 2013/14 season for Derby earned him a spot in England's Under-21 side at just 18 years old, and in November, he made his debut for them in a friendly against Scotland, where his standout performance saw him earn praise from both the coaching staff and his teammates.

Not even a month later, the midfielder was nominated for the Football League Young Player of the Year award due to his excellent performances at Pride Park, which only increased further speculation of an impending move to the Premier League.

Having to compete with the likes of Paul Coutts, Craig Bryson and Jeff Hendrick in the midfield, then-manager Nigel Clough remained loyal to Hughes, where the midfielder would play 41 Championship matches that season in the heart of the side.

Hughes signed a new four-year deal in the summer of 2014, extending his stay with his boyhood club despite interest from elsewhere.

After damaging his anterior cruciate ligaments at the beginning of the 2015/16 season, Hughes spent the majority of the season on the sidelines, but upon his return, he signed a new deal with the club.

The 2016/17 season would be his last at the club, switching to Premier League outfit Watford for a fee upwards of £8 million.

Hughes made 187 appearances for Derby across all competitions before his move to Hertfordshire, scoring 12 goals and grabbing 18 assists during his time with the club, leaving the club with four seasons of stellar service and a decent pure profit fee.

Will Hughes has had a solid career in the Premier League since leaving Derby County

Hughes would initially struggle for game time in his first season at Vicarage Road, making just 15 appearances and playing less than 1,000 minutes of top-flight action. However, he still grabbed two goals and three assists from midfield.

A hamstring injury kept Hughes out of action for much of that campaign, but when fit, he had to compete with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Etienne Capoue, Tom Cleverley and Roberto Pereyra for a place in the side, which also helped to limit his game time.

The three seasons that followed were much more successful for Hughes in terms of playing time, making over 30 appearances in each of the next three campaigns, although his final one for the club came in the Championship, before his £6 million move to Crystal Palace.

Although he has never nailed down a consistent starting berth at Selhurst Park, Hughes has gone on to make over 130 appearances for the Eagles and helped the club win the first trophy in their existence last season when they won the FA Cup.

Hughes competed with the likes of Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma for a place in the side during Palace's historic 2024/25 season, but held his own, still making 41 appearances across all competitions that campaign.