He joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Scotland in 2009, becoming an important member of the team, a status he also enjoyed after moving on to Aberdeen three years later.

[1] He started his career at Reading, but with first team opportunities limited, he joined Forest Green Rovers on loan in February 2006, scoring on his debut in the FA Trophy against Dorchester Town.

The midfielder showed good perseverance, pinching the ball off of Paul Scholes in the penalty box, before beating David de Gea with a composed finish.

[19] He pounced on a mistake by goalkeeper Alan Mannus and defender Frazer Wright, leaving Hayes with the easy task of firing into the empty net, before celebrating in front of the travelling Aberdeen support.

A poor goal kick by Steve Banks allowed Adam Rooney to square the ball across the six-yard box for Hayes to knock into the net.

Clever footwork by the winger late in the second half led to a fine finish just inside the 18-yard box to wrap up the match and send Aberdeen through to the final.

[22] Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster's run of clean sheets (13 games) was finally ended on 1,256 minutes on 25 February 2014 when Hayes beat him from 30 yards to open the scoring in a 2–1 win for The Dons.

[23][24] On 16 March 2014, Hayes started for Aberdeen in the League Cup final but early on he suffered a shoulder injury and had to be replaced by Cammy Smith.

[25] In the opening match of the 2014–15 season he scored Aberdeen's fourth goal in a 5–0 victory against FK Daugava Riga in the Europa League first qualifying round first leg.

[34] In August 2020 he was one of eight Aberdeen players who received a suspended three-match ban from the Scottish Football Association after they breached coronavirus-related restrictions by visiting a bar earlier in the month.

[35] Hayes left Aberdeen at the end of the 2023–24 season, upon the expiration of his contract and his decision to turn down an offer for a coaching role within the club's youth academy.