Harry Clarke today became Charlton Athletic’s first signing of the January transfer window, arriving on loan from fellow Championship side Ipswich Town.
Clarke is a right sided defender who started his career in the Ipswich Academy before a move to Arsenal aged 14. He didn’t make a senior appearance for the Gunners but did have loans at Oldham Athletic, Ross County, Hibernian and Stoke City. Ipswich re-signed him in January 2023 and he played 20 games in the second half of the 2023/24 season and helped Ipswich gain promotion to the Championship. Another 35 appearances were to follow in a second successive promotion season. Games were harder to come by in the Premier League, with Clarke only getting on the pitch 7 times before a loan to Sheffield United for the second half of last season.
The new signing can play as either a centre back, right back or right wing back which makes him perfect for the role usually filled by the currently injured Kayne Ramsay and Reece Burke. With James Bree’s loan set to expire this weekend Clarke is also a handy option to have. He started his footballing life as a midfielder and is comfortable on the ball. Ipswich fans online have praised Clarke’s work ethic and drive which are non-negotiable’s in a Nathan Jones team.
The defender’s 2025 was heavily disrupted by foot and knee injuries and it is a concern that his last senior competitive game was in April. With Burke and Ramsay also having patchy injury records this feels like Jones admitting he needs three senior options for that role. Keenan Gough has performed admirably at right centre back and might justifiably feel aggrieved that his game time might be curtailed. Clarke’s contract is up this summer, although Ipswich do have a one year extension option, so the loan could be seen as an extended trial for a summer signing.
Manager Nathan Jones told the club website: “We’re delighted to bring a player of Harry’s calibre to the football club. He’s an athletic, versatile defender with good experience for his age, and he’s already had real success at this level having starred in Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League.”
Asked about his switch to SE7, Clarke said: "The main thing for me was the manager. I spoke to him and I got that feeling of being really wanted at a place straight away. Not many teams have come to Portman Road this season and won convincingly which Charlton did, so they're the appealing factors."