Harvey Hughes (born 20 December 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays for HFX Wanderers FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Harvey Hughes
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-12-20) 20 December 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
HFX Wanderers FC
Number 41
Youth career
2017–2021 Portsmouth
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– CBU Capers 23 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Portsmouth 0 (0)
2021–2022Bognor Regis Town (loan) 13 (1)
2022–2023 Blackpool 0 (0)
2022Bamber Bridge (loan) 6 (0)
2023 Lewes 13 (0)
2023 AFC Totton 0 (0)
2024 Dorchester Town 2 (1)
2024AFC Portchester (dual-registration)
2025 Calgary Foothills FC 14 (2)
2026– HFX Wanderers FC 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 29 June 2026

Early life

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Hughes joined the Portsmouth Academy when he was 13.[1] In April 2019, Hughes was named the CEFA (Community & Education Football Alliance) Male Player of the Season at the 2019 EFL Awards.[2]

University career

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In 2024, Hughes moved to Canada to attend Cape Breton University, where he joined the men's soccer team. He was named the team's Rookie of the Year in 2024.[3] In 2025, he was named an AUS Second Team All-Star.[4]

Club career

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England

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On 9 November 2021, Hughes made his senior debut with Portsmouth in the 2021–22 EFL Trophy against Crystal Palace U21.[5] In late December 2021, he joined Bognor Regis Town on loan in the seventh tier Isthmian League Premier.[6][7] He went on trial with Brighton & Hove Albion in April 2022, after his scholarship contract with Portsmouth expired and was not renewed.[8][9]

In July 2022, he joined Blackpool on a one-year contract to join their developmental side in the Central League, but featured with the first team in pre-season.[10][11][12] In August 2022, he was loaned to Bamber Bridge for one month in the seventh tier Northern Premier League Premier Division.[13] At the end of the season, he was released by Blackpool.[14]

In August 2023, he signed with Lewes in the seventh tier Isthmian League Premier.[15] In December 2023, he joined AFC Totton in the seventh tier Southern Football League Premier Division South.[16] In January 2024, he signed with Dorchester Town in the seventh tier Southern Football League Premier Division South.[17][18] In February 2024, he joined AFC Portchester in the ninth tier Wessex Football League Premier Division on a dual-registration deal, allowing him to play for both sides.[19]

Canada

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At the 2025 CPL-U Sports Draft, he was selected in the first round (eighth overall) by Cavalry FC.[20] However, he suffered a quad strain in the first weeks of pre-season, which led to him not signing a contract.[21] He subsequently played with Calgary Foothills FC in League1 Alberta.[22]

At the 2026 CPL-U Sports Draft, he was selected in the first round (sixth overall) by HFX Wanderers FC.[23] In March 2026, he signed a U Sports contract with the club, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.[4]

Career statistics

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As of 19 April 2026[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Domestic Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Portsmouth 2021–22 EFL League One 00001[a]010
Bognor Regis Town (loan) 2021–22[25] Isthmian League Premier 131001[b]0141
Blackpool 2022–23 EFL Championship 00000000
Bamber Bridge (loan) 2022–23[26] Northern Premier League Premier 60000060
Lewes 2023–24[27] Isthmian League Premier 130303[a]1191
AFC Totton 2023–24[28] Southern Football League Premier Division South 00001[c]010
Dorchester Town F.C. 2023–24[29] Southern Football League Premier Division South 20000020
AFC Portchester (dual registration) 2023–24 Wessex Football League Premier ??00????
Calgary Foothills FC 2025 League1 Alberta 142142
HFX Wanderers FC 2026 Canadian Premier League 00000000
Career total 4833061574
Notes
  1. 1 2 Appearances in FA Trophy
  2. Appearance in Sussex Senior Cup
  3. Appearance in Southampton Senior Cup

References

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  1. King, Iain (28 November 2025). "Capers Harvey Hughes drafted by Halifax Wanderers 6th overall in 2026 CPL-U SPORTS Draft". CBU Capers.
  2. "Hughes Named CEFA Player Of The Season". Portsmouth F.C. 7 April 2019.
  3. Connors, Christopher (26 March 2025). "Cape Breton University honours top Capers athletes". SaltWire Network.
  4. 1 2 "Halifax Wanderers sign CBU full-back Harvey Hughes to U SPORTS deal". Canadian Premier League. 20 March 2026.
  5. "Pompey 3 Crystal Palace U21 0". Portsmouth F.C. 9 November 2021.
  6. Eldridge, Carl (23 December 2021). "Portsmouth teenagers join Bognor Regis Town on loan". Sussex Express.
  7. Colman, Jonty (23 December 2021). "Portsmouth duo seal short term transfer exits in first regular taste of senior football". Hampshire Live.
  8. Mills, Richard (12 April 2022). "Who is Harvey Hughes? Brighton offer trial to youngster who could become first summer signing". Sussex Live.
  9. Ray, James (12 April 2022). "Portsmouth's Harvey Hughes set for Brighton and Hove Albion trial after learning contract fate". The 72.
  10. Scrafton, Matt (15 July 2022). "Who is Harvey Hughes? A closer look at the ex-Portsmouth teen who could feature for Blackpool against Rangers". Blackpool Gazette.
  11. Jones, Jordan (9 January 2024). "Former Blackpool man transfers to third club in seven months since Bloomfield Road exit". Blackpool Gazette.
  12. McCracken, Stuart (27 February 2023). "Hughes: Keen To Impress". Blackpool F.C.
  13. "Hughes And Trusty Head Out On Loan". Blackpool F.C. 12 August 2022.
  14. Allen, Neil (17 May 2023). "Ex-Portsmouth youngster suffers successive summer heartbreak after released by Blackpool following Championship relegation". The News.
  15. "Harvey Hughes Arrives". Lewes F.C. 10 August 2023.
  16. "The long read: AFC Totton 4-0 Winsor United Green, SDFA Southampton Senior Cup 3rd round". AFC Totton. 13 December 2023.
  17. Walton, Neil (5 January 2024). "Tyrique Clarke and Harvey Hughes: Dorchester Town sign duo". Dorset Echo.
  18. Jones, Jordan (9 January 2024). "Former Pompey youngster joins third club in seven months after being released by Blackpool". The News.
  19. Walton, Neil (26 February 2024). "Harvey Hughes: AFC Portchester sign defender on dual terms". Dorset Echo.
  20. "Cavalry FC selects Harvey Hughes and Owen Antoniuk in 2025 CPL U-SPORTS draft". Calgary Herald. 5 December 2024.
  21. Fraser, Jeremy (4 December 2025). "Cape Breton Capers' Harvey Hughes hopes to take advantage of second selection at Canadian Premier League-U Sports Draft". SaltWire Network.
  22. "Six Points from Villains Paves Way to Friday Doubleheader Against Edmonton Scottish". Calgary Foothills FC. 9 July 2025.
  23. "Wanderers select Harvey Hughes and Kautchy Andji-Yapi in CPL - U SPORTS Draft Presented by Degree". HFX Wanderers FC. 28 November 2025.
  24. Harvey Hughes at Soccerway
  25. "Harvey Hughes Bognor Regis Stats". Football Webpages.
  26. "Harvey Hughes Bamber Bridge Stats". Football Webpages.
  27. "Harvey Hughes Lewes Stats". Football Webpages.
  28. "Match Preview: Stags take on Magpies at Snows Stadium". AFC Totton. 28 February 2024.
  29. "Harvey Hughes Dorchester Town Stats". Football Webpages.
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