3/1 To Win
Derby County have bolstered their defensive options ahead of the 2019/20 campaign with the addition of Matt Clarke on a season-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 22-year-old’s arrival at Pride Park Stadium offers manager Phillip Cocu another option in the heart of the defence, with the Rams’ new manager of the belief that Clarke has the attributes to match the philosophy he is hoping to implement into his squad.
Youth Career
The Suffolk-born defender progressed through the ranks at Ipswich Town after joining as a schoolboy and eventually signed scholarship forms with the club ahead of the 2013/14 season.
Clarke was included in the first-team’s pre-season campaign ahead of his second season as a scholar and made his senior debut aged 17 in the EFL Cup against Crawley Town. He signed his first professional contract soon afterwards.
Portsmouth
Clarke spent the 2015/16 season on loan at Portsmouth in Sky Bet League 2, with his initial six-month deal extended until the end of the campaign after he signed a new two-year deal with Ipswich.
Following an impressive season at Fratton Park, Pompey secured the services of the defender permanently and he became a key member of their side over the next three years.
Despite being hampered by injury at the start of his first season, Clarke became a regular in the starting line-up on his return to action and was pivotal in their League Two title-winning campaign in 2016/17.
Last season, Clarke played in all but one Checkatrade Trophy fixture for Portsmouth, totalling 60 games. He started every league game as well as both play-off semi-final clashes against Sunderland.
Portsmouth went on to win the Checkatrade Trophy at Wembley against Sunderland with Clarke being named Man of the Match.
His dependability caught the attention of Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion this summer where he signed a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
