Hull City -finally complete eye-catching transfer of Wigan Athletic star Charlie Hughes

Hull City have completed the signing of highly-rated young defender Charlie Hughes from Wigan Athletic after finally making a breakthrough last weekend in talks with the DW Stadium outfit.

City have been courting the 20-year-old for much of the summer having made him one of their top transfer targets at the back after selling Jacob Greaves to Ipswich Town for more than £18m

The Latics and Tigers broadly agreed on a fee earlier this month after triggering his release clause believed to be in the region of £3.5m but had hit a stumbling block over the payment terms and how those payments would be structured over the duration of Hughes’ four-year contract with the option of a fifth.

And though the Lancashire club felt frustrated after City’s very public courting of the England youngster, a breakthrough was made and Hughes was left out of the Latics’ Carabao Cup defeat to Barnsley in midweek. The defender then travelled to East Yorkshire on Wednesday to undergo a medical and watched the Tigers lose 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday at the MKM Stadium, along with fellow new arrivals Oscar Zambrano and Mason Burstow.

The highly-rated defender trained at Cottingham on Thursday and then on Friday morning ahead of the trip to Plymouth with Hughes joining fellow new arrivals Mason Burstow and Oscar Zambrano in Tim Walter’s squad for Saturday’s game at Home Park.

Hughes came through the ranks at Manchester City and then Liverpool earlier in his fledgling career before moving to his hometown club to join the Latics’ Under-14s, going on to captain their youth ages through to the senior team. He made his debut on Boxing Day in 2023 in a game against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Having made his debut, Hughes never looked back and became a firm fixture in the first team, going on to play 76 times for Wigan, scoring four goals, while being called up to and captaining the England Under-20 side. He will now call East Yorkshire his home.

Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney has outlined the next steps following the sale of academy product Charlie Hughes for an undisclosed fee to Hull City.
Maloney says he will receive a percentage of the fee paid by the Championship outfit to improve his squad, although admits he will only use the money if the ‘right person’ is made available.

England youth international Hughes had his move to the MKM Stadium confirmed on Friday on a four-year deal, with the option of a further season in the club’s favour.