'He played a big part in both of Ipswich Town's promotions' - the lowdown on new Charlton Athletic loan addition Harry Clarke
Tractor Boys reporter Alex Jones gives us his insight on the Addicks' first signing of the January transfer window
Ipswich Town defender Harry Clarke closes down Newcastle attacker Anthony Gordon during a Premier League match at Portman Road in December 2024/Picture: Alamy
Charlton Athletic have made their first signing of the January transfer window - adding Ipswich Town defender Harry Clarke on loan.
We exclusively revealed on a recent South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition post-match pod that it sounded like a right-sided centre-back could be a potential addition this month.
And Clarke, 24, has played extensively in central defence as well as right-back.
He started on the books of the Tractor Boys, his boyhood club, before signing for Arsenal in 2015. A professional deal with the north Londoners followed three years later.
Clarke gained first-team experience on loan at Oldham, Ross County, Hibernian and Stoke City before Ipswich Town clinched his signature at the midway point of the 2022-23 season.
“I was a striker back then - trying to score as many goals as possible - no matter what shirt I was in,” Clarke told Ipswich’s YouTube in January 2023 when he returned as a senior player. “I came here and didn’t get in. A year or two later I was playing at Norwich and broke my arm against that lot. My dad got a call and Ipswich signed me up.
“In the first six months after I went to Arsenal I played every single position then solidified a role at centre-half. It wasn’t until last year that I ended up playing right-back.”
Clarke’s own description of himself as a player is likely to get multiple ticks on Nathan Jones’ checklist.
“You can expect absolute passion,” he said. “That is a given - no matter what club I am at. I’ll give everything on the pitch."
“I’m good on the ball, quick and powerful. I’m good at defending and I’ll get the odd goal as well.”
The player’s contract with the East Anglian club runs until this summer but Ipswich retain an option to extend by a further 12 months.
Clarke cut short his spell with Stoke City, where he had scored two goals in 18 Championship appearances, to become part of Kieran McKenna’s squad which won the League One title in 2023. He featured 20 times for Town. There is footage of him here looking emotional after their promotion.
It was to get even better in the 2023-24 campaign as Ipswich ended a 22-year absence from the Premier League as they finished runners-up to Leicester City. Clarke played 39 games, 25 of those Championship starts.
“It is what dreams are made of,” he said, speaking to Sky Sports after promotion was achieved. “But never did I dream of this. I thought I would come back and hopefully get us to the Championship. It has exceeded all my dreams.”
South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition caught up with Alex Jones, Ipswich Town reporter for the East Anglian Daily Times, to get the lowdown on Clarke.
