Field Insider
36.1
34.5%
Ratingi
12.9
63.5%
Seasoni
19.5
Valuei

based on the 2025/26 season · updated 18 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameWilliam James Hughes
PositionCentral midfielder
NationalityEngland
Age31
Date of birth17 Apr 1995
BirthplaceSurrey
Height185 cm
Shirt number#19
ClubCrystal Palace
More about W. Hughes →
Central midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
31
Appearances
0
Goals
0
Assists
1577
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Crystal Palace.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral midfielder

W. Hughes is a 31-year-old central midfielder at Crystal Palace, rated 36.1 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 167th of 197 on scout potential in the Premier League. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option this season (46.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.85 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Hughes.

Judged on this season alone, Hughes graded 13 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 30th of 42 of the 42 central midfielders in the Premier League, on 0 goals, 0 assists and 2.854 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 35 → 13). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2024/25.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 36, 32nd of 42 of the 42 central midfielders in the Premier League. At 31 Hughes is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 19.5 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

Past his 2024/25 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2024/25Trending downRemarkably consistentStepped up 2021/22
Current potential32nd of 42 central midfielders · Premier LeagueCurrent season30th of 42 central midfielders · Premier League30th-best central midfielder in the Premier League167th in the Premier League · potential32nd-highest potential central midfielder in the Premier League
36.1
Ratingi
32nd of 42 central midfielders
12.9
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
46.1%
Minutes
rotation minutes
2.85
Def. actions / 90
moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Crystal Palace finished 15th of 20 · a lower-table side

31
Apps
2.85
Def. / 90
27
Tackles
15
Interceptions
6
Clean sheets

2.85 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (15th of 20) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight.

Strengths

  • Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 92.6/100).

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 46.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
  • Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 36.1, Hughes carries the 32nd-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Premier League of 42, and he is posting that for a lower-table side (Crystal Palace finished 15th of 20) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.85 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Premier League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles27
Interceptions15
Blocks8

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards7
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.