Laura Hughes (footballer)

Laura Hughes
Hughes with Canberra United in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-06-06) 6 June 2001
Place of birth Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Southampton
Number 14
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2020 Canberra United 18 (1)
2020 Þróttur 15 (2)
2020–2023 Canberra United 44 (2)
2023 Manly United 10 (0)
2023–2026 Melbourne City 35 (3)
2026– Southampton 0 (0)
International career‡
2024 Australia U23 1 (0)
2024 Australia 1 (0)
2025– Wales 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 January 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 2 December 2025

Laura Hughes (born 6 June 2001) is a footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League 2 club Southampton and the Wales national team. She has been capped once for Australia and changed international allegiance to Wales.

Early life

Hughes was born on 6 June 2001 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Being of Welsh descent, as a child she spent time in Wales, primarily in her mother's home town of Porthcawl in Bridgend.[1] She finished high school at Erindale College in the Canberra suburb of Wanniassa.[2]

Club career

Hughes was born in Canberra, and was signed in 2016 from the Canberra academy, and also had played some games for the Junior Matildas.[3] She made her debut on 18 December 2016, as a substitute in Canberra's 5–1 victory. This was her only appearance for the year.[4]

In the 2018–19 season, Hughes played a more regular role for Canberra which culminated with her winning the club's rising star for the year.[5]

She scored her first goal in a 3–1 victory over Adelaide at the end of the 2019–20 season.[6]

Hughes briefly left Canberra to play for Þróttur in Iceland but shortly re-signed for Canberra United in time for the 2020–21 W-League.[7][8] Hughes had created a video of highlights of her playing which had been sent to various Icelandic clubs, this then led to her being noticed by Nik Chamberlain, the manager of Þróttur at the time. Hughes had always intended her stay in Iceland to be short-term as, when asked about her plans for the following Australian summer, she responded with "I am planning to return to Australia in time for W-League. However, it depends on whether the new coach of Canberra United would like to offer me a spot in their squad."[9]

In September 2020, she re-signed with Canberra United.[10]

After seven seasons with Canberra United, Hughes joined Melbourne City.[11] She departed Melbourne City in July 2026 to pursue an opportunity overseas.[12]

On 31 July 2026, English Women's Super League 2 club Southampton announced the signing of Hughes.[13]

International career

Australia

In December 2024, Hughes was called-up to the Australian senior team for the first-time, as a replacement for Chloe Logarzo who was withdrawn due to a concussion.[14] She made her senior international debut, coming on as a substitute during the 6–0 victory over Chinese Taipei.[15]

Wales

In November 2025, Hughes was called-up by Wales for a camp in Spain, including two friendlies.[16] Due the delay in processing her switch of allegiance, she did not appear for Wales against South Korea.[17] Three days later, Hughes' request to switch international allegiance to Wales was approved by FIFA.[18] She made her debut for Wales in a 3–2 victory over Switzerland on 2 December 2025.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hughes proud after swapping Matildas for Wales". BBC Sport. 3 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Bertoldo, Lucie (23 November 2019). "Canberra United's Laura Hughes ditches study for Melbourne City preparation". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Canberra United sign Academy trio for Season 9". The Women's Game. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Canberra United Women vs Brisbane Roar FC Women, Westfield W-League, Round 7, 18th Dec 2016". Westfield W-League. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Bertoldo, Lucie (25 October 2019). "Canberra United sign Laura Hughes and goal-scoring ace Hayley Taylor-Young". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Hughes: So proud of all the girls | Interview | Westfield W-League | Westfield W-League". www.w-league.com.au. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Bertoldo, Lucie (18 September 2020). "Laura Hughes re-signs with Canberra United for 2021 W-League season". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Bertoldo, Lucie (30 November 2020). "Laura Hughes' Icelandic adventure with Throttur Reykjavik FC". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  9. ↑ Paquette, Catherine (15 June 2020). "From Canberra to Iceland: The 'Highlights Video' That Secured Hughes' Dream Move". The Women's Game. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "Laura Hughes commits to Canberra United". Canberra United. 18 September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Welcome, Laura: Australian midfielder joins City". Melbourne City. 25 August 2023.
  12. ↑ Kovacic, Jack (13 July 2026). "Championship winner departs City for overseas opportunity". Melbourne City.
  13. ↑ "Women welcome Laura Hughes as fourth summer signing". Southampton. 31 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Squad Update - 5th December 2024". Matildas. Football Australia. 5 December 2024.
  15. ↑ Camron, Ben (7 December 2024). "Matildas crush Chinese Taipei as SIX Aussies find the back of the net in veteran's final game". Fox Sports.
  16. ↑ "Australia cap Hughes called up by Wales". BBC Sport. 19 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Wales' winless run stretched to 12 matches as they missed a string of chances in a 1-1 friendly draw with South Korea in Malaga". BBC.com. 28 November 2025. The hope is that Laura Hughes, the once-capped Australia midfielder, will be allowed to feature in that game after she missed out against South Korea thanks to a delay in processing her switch of allegiance to Wales.
  18. ↑ "FIFA Change of Association Platform". knowledge.fifa.com. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
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