Stockport County’s latest Summer signing is here, as former Leicester City and Burton Albion defender Sam Hughes joins us on a three-year deal.
The aerially dominant centre-half has spent the last four seasons in League One with Burton, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2022/23. He was offered new terms this Summer by the Brewers, but after the expiration of his contract now moves to Edgeley Park on a free transfer ahead of the new campaign.
The 27-year-old began his career in the National League with Chester, coming through their academy to become a first-team regular at just 18. He made 64 appearances for the club over two seasons in the fifth tier, scoring eight times, with his performances earning him a move to Leicester City in 2017 for a six-figure fee.
He spent the next two seasons featuring for the Premier League side’s U23s before making his EFL debut in 2019, during a short loan spell at Salford City in League Two.
Hughes first moved to Burton in a loan deal during the 2020/21 campaign, making 15 appearances for the Brewers in the first half of the campaign before returning to Leicester in January. He came back to the Pirelli Stadium on loan the following campaign, before signing permanently for the club in January 2022.
In his first full season as a Burton Albion player, the defender excelled. He featured 49 times at the heart of the Brewers defence, with his performances seeing him voted by Burton supporters as their Player of the Year – picking up 40% of a club record number of votes.
He leaves Burton having made over 100 appearances for the Staffordshire side, helping them to secure their League One status last season. Interest in his services this Summer was high following the expiration of his contract, with County beating a number of League One clubs to secure his signature.
Sam will take part in pre-season training for the first time tomorrow, and joins the squad as we prepare for our first pre-season fixture this weekend against his former club, Chester.
First-Team Manager, Dave Challinor said:
“I’m delighted to be able bring Sam to the club as we begin our pre-season preparations for next season. His League One experience, leadership qualities and the potential to improve with his age will make him a great addition to our squad.
“We needed to add another aerially dominant centre-back who could play either side in a three, and Sam certainly has all those attributes. We are all really looking forward to working with him.”
Director of Football, Simon Wilson added:
“Sam brings in real credible League One experience and leadership characteristics to the group. The references we have received for him have been very strong, especially on his character, and we believe he will compliment what we already have in the squad have very well.”
