Former Gunner returns to Championship with new club | OneFootball

Arsenal deals & transfers January 2025

Former Gunner Harry Clarke has made his debut for Sheffield United on loan, leaving Ipswich Town after struggling to hold down a spot since their Premier League promotion.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Hale End academy graduate Harry Clarke has had an up-and-down start to his senior career, dropping down to League One to join Ipswich Town from Arsenal in 2023 following a few loan spells around the UK.

Clarke won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich to help them return to the Premier League, but he then needed Achilles surgery over the summer, delaying his debut.

A red card on his first start didn’t help, and Clarke has been in and out of the Ipswich team ever since.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Ipswich are battling relegation, but they decided to prioritise Clarke’s development earlier this week by sending him out on loan to Sheffield United in the Championship.

The defender made an immediate debut away to Derby on Saturday, helping them to a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. It was the perfect start to the loan, with Sheffield United hoping to achieve promotion back to the Premier League this season.

“Where the boys are here, going for promotion, it was a no-brainer really,” Clarke said. “I’ve played here a few times and the atmosphere at Bramall Lane is incredible.

“It’s a tough league; anyone can beat anyone on their day. I know what it took last year so hopefully I can bring that experience. I am young but I’ve been there, so hopefully we can achieve something this year.”

Photo via Clarke on Twitter

With any luck, Clarke will be back in the Premier League again next season. That could be with Ipswich, should they avoid relegation, or perhaps with a permanent switch to Sheffield United.