Derby County is delighted to announce that Will Hughes has committed his future to the club by putting pen-to-paper on a new contract.
The 21-year-old England Under 21 international midfielder has signed a new three-and-a-half year deal.Hughes’ new contract, which he signed at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby this morning, will run until the summer of 2020.
The Academy graduate has featured on 25 occasions for Derby in the 2016/17 campaign to date and has played an instrumental role in the side’s surge up the Sky Bet Championship table under Steve McClaren.
Since making his debut as a 16-year-old in November 2011, Hughes has made 170 first-team appearances for Derby and established himself as a key component of the side.
Hughes is the fifth Derby player to sign fresh terms this season, following in the footsteps of youngsters Max Lowe, Jonathan Mitchell and Charles Vernam – as well as experienced goalkeeper Scott Carson.
After seeing Hughes pen his new deal, Derby boss McClaren commented: “We’re all thrilled that Will Hughes has signed his new deal and committed his future to Derby County until at least 2020.
“Will is an exciting young talent and a really important player for this football club.
“I’m excited about seeing him continue to develop, improve and play a key role here at Derby County moving forwards.”
Hughes initially joined Derby’s Academy on schoolboy forms at the age of 11 before signing his first professional contract in March 2012.
His first-team bow came as a substitute against Peterborough United in November 2011, before making his first professional start against the same opponents later in the 2011/12 campaign.
The 2012/13 season saw Hughes establish himself as a regular face in the Derby midfield at the age of 17 and earned rave reviews for his mature and composed displays.
His form in the 2013/14 season, as Derby reached the Championship Play-Off Final, saw him named in the Championship’s Team of the Season by his peers.
He won the Rams’ Player of the Season Award in the 2014/15 campaign and, after missing most of the 2015/16 season with a long-term knee injury, he has been a near ever-present this term and scored his first goal of the campaign in the 3-0 home win over local rivals Nottingham Forest last month.
On top of his 170 club appearances and 11 goals, Hughes has been capped 17 times by England at Under 21 level.
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