[12] The 2005–06 season proved to be difficult for Rangers domestically, and Hutton only made 23 appearances in the first team, competing with Dutchman Fernando Ricksen for the right back position.

[13] He played a part in Rangers' opening UEFA Champions League group match victories against VfB Stuttgart and Olympique Lyonnais.

[17] During the January transfer window in the 2007–08 season, Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur made a bid, believed to be in the £5 million region, for Hutton.

[24] On 1 February 2010, Hutton signed for Sunderland on loan until the end of the season,[25] and made his debut in the 1–1 draw with Wigan Athletic.

He was Tottenham's first choice right-back for the majority of the 2010–11 season, often being preferred to Croatian international Vedran Ćorluka on the right hand side of the Spurs defence.

[29] However, at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kyle Walker was regularly chosen ahead of Hutton in defence following his return from a loan spell away at Villa Park.

[30] After joining Aston Villa, Hutton made accusations towards Harry Redknapp of making his life a misery by training with the youth side and that he was treated as an 'outcast' during his three years spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

[36] Later in the season Hutton's fiery reputation continued, as he was shown a second yellow card and sent off in Villa's 2–1 defeat at home to Arsenal on 21 December.

The speculation intensified when new Villa manager Paul Lambert signed Sheffield United right-back Matthew Lowton on 6 July 2012.

Ten days later, Hutton was left out of the 25-man squad chosen to represent the club on the pre-season tour of the United States.

[37] Having been left out of the first team, Hutton admitted that he found himself in a difficult situation, but said that he hoped to force himself back into first-team contention.

[38] Having his first team opportunities limited at Aston Villa, Hutton joined Nottingham Forest on an emergency loan, until 2 January 2013, making him available for nine matches.

[40] Two days later, Hutton made his debut, making a quick impact by providing an assist for Billy Sharp to score the opener, as Nottingham Forest beat Wolves 2–1.

[48] Hutton's good pre-season form continued, and once the new Premier League season began he found himself as first choice right back again.

He started and completed the 2015 FA Cup Final, a 4–0 defeat to Arsenal,[50] and featured regularly (28 appearances) as Aston Villa finished bottom and were relegated from the Premier League the following season.

Along with his then-Rangers teammate Charlie Adam, Hutton was called up by manager Alex McLeish to the Scotland squad for the first time on 11 May 2007 for a friendly against Austria and a Euro 2008 qualifying match against the Faroe Islands.