Charlie Hughes

Hughes was a commanding presence at the heart of Hull's defense throughout their promotion campaign, starting 39 of their 49 Championship fixtures and accumulating 3,459 minutes alongside some eye-catching defensive numbers. His 51 tackles, 50 interceptions and 293 clearances paint the picture of a center-back who throws himself into every battle. Still relatively young and having been handed significant responsibility within the squad, he handled the step up well and was a key pillar of a Hull defense that consistently punched above its weight throughout the season. The Premier League will be a genuine test of his quality against attackers of a caliber he has rarely faced, and the physical and technical demands at the top level are considerably higher than in the Championship. His work rate and aerial presence give him a foundation to build on, but whether his reading of the game is refined enough to cope with the pace and movement of top-flight forwards will determine how well he adapts in his debut Premier League season.