x

Clarke Signs New Deal - Ipswich Town News

Central defender Matt Clarke has put pen to paper on a contract until June 2017 with an option for a further season.

The 18-year-old, whose previous deal ran to the summer of 2016 with an option for another season, is on a youth loan with Portsmouth until January 3rd, although the Blues are entitled to recall him at 24 hours’ notice now that he has been with Pompey for more than 28 days.

"I’m obviously delighted and I guess it’s reward for the progress I have made this season,” Clarke told the club site.

"The manager wanted me to go out and play games and that is what I have done at Portsmouth and I’m really enjoying it.

"I’m looking to improve as a player and playing games week in, week out is going to help me do that.

"Playing for Portsmouth has been great for me but I see my future at Ipswich. My goal is to get to a standard where the gaffer feels he can put me in his team here.”

Barham-born Clarke has made seven starts for Portsmouth so far and has helped them to an unbeaten League Two start and up to fourth in the table.

Having come through the Academy, the former Claydon High School pupil made his senior debut for Town in last season’s Capital One Cup first round tie at Crawley - at left-back rather than in his usual central defensive role - and went on to make a further four sub appearances during the Blues' Championship campaign.

Photos: TWTD/ITFC

What to read next:

Young Watches Son as U21s Beat Needham
Former England star and apparent Town target Ashley Young watched his son Tyler feature as a trialist for Town's U21s on Tuesday evening as they beat 10-man Needham Market 2-1 at Bloomfields in a pre-season friendly.
Young Watching Town U21s at Needham
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is watching Town’s U21s in friendly action at Needham Market with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad.
Blues Beaten By Hammers in Behind Closed Doors Friendlies
Town played two 60-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies with West Ham United at their Rush Green training ground this afternoon.
Halajko New Director of Football Operations, Chenery Appointed Academy Manager
Dmitri Halajko, previously Town’s academy director, has been appointed the new director of football operations, TWTD having revealed Gary Probert’s departure for a job at Liverpool a fortnight ago, while Ben Chenery has been named academy manager.
Town Women Sign Striker Dean
Ipswich Town Women have signed striker Rianna Dean following her Southampton exit at the end of last season.
Chaplin: Opener at Birmingham One to Look Forward To
Ipswich Town’s season opener against Birmingham City is a clash that the whole squad are looking forward to, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Fourteen Sign Contracts Ahead of WSL2 Campaign
Town have confirmed that 14 players have signed new contracts with the women’s side for the WSL2 season ahead.
U21s in Action at Needham
Town’s U21s are in friendly action against Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market at Bloomfields this evening (KO 7.45pm).
Town Women to Host Villa U21s in Friendly
Ipswich Town Women will play a friendly against WSL side Aston Villa’s U21s at the Martello Ground in Felixstowe on Sunday 17th August (KO 2pm).
Town Yet to Open Young Talks
TWTD understands Town are yet to open talks with veteran former England international Ashley Young, but there is interest.