Isaac Hughes

#26 ISAAC HUGHES BIO – DOB 25/3/04

Isaac Hughes is one of four Wellington Phoenix academy players to graduate to the first team during the 2023-24 A-League off-season.

The combative centre back signed a two-year professional deal with the Phoenix in September, joining reserves teammates Lukas Kelly-Heald, Fin Conchie and Luke Supyk in securing first team contracts.

Hughes was born in Warrington, England and spent time at the Bolton and Crewe academies before his family moved to New Zealand when he was 10 years old.

He joined the Phoenix academy in 2019 from Kapiti Coast United and has captained the reserves for the past two seasons after making his debut late in 2021.

Hughes led the reserves to a third-place finish in the 2022 Central League, starting 16 of their 18 league matches.

> 2022-23 season

Isaac Hughes started three of New Zealand’s six matches at the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Tahiti, scoring a goal in the 2-0 semi-final win over the hosts that secured a place at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Hughes sat out just one of the reserves’ matches in the 2022 Men’s National League Championship that followed.

He travelled to Melbourne with the first team at the start of February 2023 and was on the bench for their round 15 A-League match against Victory.

Hughes started seven of the reserves’ first eight matches in the 2023 Central League before heading to Argentina for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he started three of New Zealand’s four World Cup matches.

He made his first team debut as a second-half substitute in the round of 16 Australia Cup match against Melbourne City in August.

“I’ve been exposed to the standard over the past couple of years being involved in first team training and I think I’ve grown over time,” Hughes said.

“I feel like I’m starting to assert myself and show more of my qualities at training.

“Coming off the back of the under-20 world cup I know what’s required at the next level and I think I’ve got the ability to be a good A-League player.”