Hughes, a reliable defender with bags of Premiership experience, became the latest signing for Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham after he was allowed to leave Aston Villa at the end of the 2006/07 season.

Signed for £1million, Hughes had moved to Villa after becoming a victim of Graeme Souness' Newcastle United reshuffle days after the completion of the 2004/05 season.

Hughes had arrived on Tyneside as a trainee and signed his first professional contract in March 1997.

His poise on the ball and ability to play at centre back and in both full back positions has seen him establish himself in the Northern Ireland squad at the age of 18.

A consistent spell in the Newcastle team had initially eluded him but he finally made his mark, grabbing his first goal for the club in an 8-0 destruction of Sheffield Wednesday in 1999/2000. He also made his Premiership debut against the Owls.

That season made his career at Newcastle - and he would become a very important member of the first team squad.

The Cookstown-born player went on to become one of the longest-serving players on their books and was a model professional, becoming the captain of his country in April 2002, shortly after signing a new five-year contract with Newcastle.

Despite being a regular in Souness' squad during the 2004/05 campaign he was allowed to leave at the end of the campaign after making 245 appearances and scoring seven goals.

Hughes signed a three-year deal at Villa Park for an undisclosed fee and went on to make 64 appearances in all competitions for the club.

A versatile defender, Hughes became another of Lawrie Sanchez's Northern Ireland signing alongside Chris Baird, David Healy and Steven Davis.

The captain of his country, with over 50 international caps, Hughes was quoted as saying: 'I'm delighted to be joining Fulham and am looking forward to working with Lawrie Sanchez at club level.

'I enjoyed my time at Aston Villa but when this opportunity presented itself I had no hesitation in coming to discuss the Manager's ambitions for the club, which obviously were of great interest to me.'

Aaron Hughes' has arguably been Fulham's most consistent performer in recent seasons and a crucial element of the Club's recent Barclays Premier League and Europa Leauge Cup successes.

The Northern Ireland captain, who has earned over 60 caps for his country, plays at the heart of the Whites' defence alongside Brede Hangeland and his performances are often faultless, impressing all at Craven Cottage with his cool composure and poise on the ball.

On the 4th December 2009 Aaron signed a new deal with the Club which will see the Northern Ireland captain remain at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2013.

Hughes was ever present once again in 2008/2009 season and his experience and quality at the back was crucial to Fulham's remarkable European campaign.

2009/2010 Hughes was an ever present alongside Brede Hangeland in the heart of Fulham's defence.

Despite not playing as much as he would have liked during the 2011/12 campaign, Hughes finished the season strongly and surpassed the 200 appearance mark for the Club. In playing a significant role in Fulham's recent progress, he is a popular figure on the banks of the Thames.

On the 14 September 2012 Aaron signed a contract extension with the Club that will see the defender remain at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2014.





source: soccernet/Fulham FC

Season	League				FA Cup				Lg Cup				Europe				Other				Total
	P	G	Y	R	P	G	Y	R	P	G	Y	R	P	G	Y	R	P	G	Y	R	P	G	Y	R
2013/2014	11	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	0	2	0
2012/2013	23	0	1	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	26	1	1	0
2011/2012	18	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	29	1	0	0
2010/2011	38	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	43	1	0	0
2009/2010	34	0	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	55	0	2	0
2008/2009	38	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	44	0	0	0

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