Having graduated a scholarship with Derby County, Hughes made his first team breakthrough during the 2012–13 season; his performances resulted in him earning attraction from multiple clubs across Europe. Hughes made his move to the Premier League with Watford in 2017, helping the Hornets reach the FA Cup final in 2019 and maintain top-flight football for three seasons. Following Watford's relegation in 2020, Hughes played a central role in their promotion campaign the following season.