Will Hughes, who was 26 years old and had ten years of professional experience, moved from Watford to Palace in August 2021.

Hughes, who grew up in Derby and was born in Surrey, joined Derby County as a scholar in 2011. At the age of 16, he made his professional debut against Peterborough United. After being named Scholar of the Year the previous year, he started playing regularly for the Rams’ senior team in 2012/13. He scored his first goal as a professional in September 2012 against Watford.