During that period alongside John Mousinho, he has overseen the Blues capturing the League One title and now enjoying successive seasons in the Championship, currently in 14th spot.
With the Hughes era beginning in October 2022, we’ve taken a look at all 43 permanent signings since them - rating each of them.
NOTE: These do not include Pompey’s 16 loan recruits during that time, which will be examined another day.
5. Paddy Lane - HIT
(84 games, 14 goals) Recruited from Fleetwood where he had lost confidence and drifted away from the first-team, taking a little while to rebuild him at Fratton Park. However, he truly ignited in the title-winning season, starring on either the left or right wing, and weighed in with 12 goals to become the third-highest scorer. Subsequently struggled to make the step up to the Championship and was sold to Reading in the summer. Hugely popular in the dressing room. Photo: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages
6. Matt Ritchie - HIT
(41 games, five goals) After leaving Fratton Park for Swindon in 2011, 13-and-a-half years later the Gosport lad was back with his beloved Blues after signing on a free transfer from Newcastle in August 2024. It took until November before he was given a sustained run in the team, yet the veteran subsequently led the high-press playing switch which would help keep Pompey in the Championship. However, a falling out with John Mousinho over game time for the forthcoming season signalled a parting of the ways. Now at Reading. Photo: Jason Brown
7. Will Norris - HIT
(56 games, 0 goals) Pompey's first signing in the summer of 2023, recruited from Burnley on a free transfer. An ever-present in the title-winning team, the goalkeeper also earned the distinction of being named in both the PFA and EFL’s League One Team of the Year. Comfortable with his feet, he dictated many of the Blues' attacks in a different style now seeing at Fratton Park. A victim of Pompey's awful start in the Championship - when his own performances veered from one extreme to the other - and subsequently never played again after the Stoke 6-1, with Nicolas Schmid coming in. Released by mutual consent in January and joined Wycombe. Photo: None
8. Harvey Blair - ON THE FENCE
(14 games, one goal) The winger has recently returned from a terrible injury sustained against Hull on the final day of last season. He's had some good moments, overall, and shown commitment, pace and effort. But physically remains a concern, while John Mousinho has raised fitness questions even before his long-term injury. Not seen enough to decide either way whether a hit or miss. Photo: Graham Hunt