Crewe Alexandra Born in
Abergele,
Conwy, Vaughan began his career as a trainee at
Crewe Alexandra. Initially an attacking
full-back, manager
Dario Gradi turned him into a left-sided
midfielder. Vaughan made his debut on 19 August 2000 in a 0–0 draw with
Blackburn Rovers. It was to be his only appearance in the
2000–01 season. The
following season he made 16 appearances who had been appointed as manager of Real Sociedad two months before following their relegation to the
Segunda División from
La Liga. Coleman resigned as manager on 16 January 2008 and Vaughan was to make only nine appearances, scoring one goal, as Real Sociedad finished fourth in the
2007–08 season, missing out on promotion to La Liga.
Blackpool during the 2010–11 Premier League season On 4 August 2008, Vaughan moved back to England, joining Championship side
Blackpool for a fee of £200,000. He signed a two-year contract, with the option of a further year. He made his debut for
the Seasiders on 9 August 2008 as a second-half substitute in a single-goal home defeat to
Bristol City at
Bloomfield Road. His first goal for the club came in a 2–3 home defeat to
Doncaster Rovers on 7 February 2009. He made a total of 35 appearances that season. His first goal of the
2009–10 season came in a 2–0 win over
Plymouth Argyle at Bloomfield Road on 17 October 2009. Following his performance in the 2–0 home win over
Reading on 20 January 2010, he was named in The Championship "Team of the Week". Blackpool reached the
play-off final that season and were promoted to the Premier League for the first team. Vaughan started for Blackpool in the final, a 3–2 win against
Cardiff City and was substituted in injury time. On 26 February 2011, Vaughan captained Blackpool in
Charlie Adam's absence. On 13 June 2011, it was announced that Vaughan had been unable to agree a new contract with Blackpool and would be leaving, citing that he wished to continue playing in the Premier League if possible.
Sunderland Sunderland signed Vaughan on a three-year deal after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical. Vaughan made his debut on the opening day of the season, coming off the bench against Liverpool. After several games on the bench Vaughan replaced
Lee Cattermole in central midfield at home to Stoke City, offering a man-of-the-match performance in Sunderland's first victory of the season, a 4–0 win. He scored his first goal for Sunderland against Blackburn with a 25-yard drive in the 84th minute on 11 December 2011 in a 2–1 win for Sunderland. On 4 January 2012 Vaughan lashed in his second goal for Sunderland as they thrashed Wigan 4–1 at the
DW Stadium. On 14 April 2013 in the
Tyne-Wear derby against local rivals
Newcastle United, Vaughan scored Sunderland's third goal to secure
Paolo Di Canio's first win as a manager of the North East side with a strike from the 18-yard box in the 82nd minute. The game finished 3–0. Vaughan started Sunderland's final game of the season at
Tottenham Hotspur, but was sent off after two late challenges as Sunderland then went on to lose to a last-minute
Gareth Bale goal.
Nottingham Forest On 31 October 2013, Vaughan joined
Nottingham Forest on loan until 29 January 2014. Although injuries restricted his appearances for Forest to just six games, he rejoined the club on 31 January on loan until the end of the season. Shortly afterwards, he fractured his
patella, and was expected to be out for some three months. On 20 April 2014
Nottingham Forest announced that Vaughan had agreed personal terms on a two-year contract, which would begin when his contract with
Sunderland expired on 1 July 2014. Vaughan remained injured for the beginning of the
2014–15 season, before completing ninety minutes for
Forest's under 21s on 26 August 2014 against
Sheffield Wednesday's under 21s. Vaughan appeared on the bench in a 5–3 victory for Forest over
Fulham on 17 September 2014, although he did not make an appearance onto the pitch. Vaughan played his first game for Forest since signing permanently on 20 September 2014, starting in midfield against
Millwall in a 0–0 draw at
The Den. On 22 August 2015, Vaughan scored his first Nottingham Forest goal in a game against
Bolton Wanderers in the Sky Bet Championship. On 12 January 2016 Vaughan received his first red card at Forest in controversial circumstances, for the use of a high foot whilst challenging
Birmingham City's
Clayton Donaldson for the ball. City manager
Gary Rowett commented on the red card in his post-match comments: "It was a little bit reckless, he stuck his foot up into Clayton's face, but I don't think it warranted a red card. If we had won the game on the back of that red card, I think it would have been slightly unjust." Forest unsuccessfully appealed against the decision and Vaughan missed their next three league games against
Bolton Wanderers,
Middlesbrough, and
Queens Park Rangers. He was released by Forest at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Notts County On 6 July 2018, Vaughan signed for Notts County. He was released by Notts County at the end of the 2018–19 season. in September 2021 he came out of retirement joining
Nantwich Town. Vaughan left at the end of 2021–22 season. ==International career==