Mitch Clark (footballer, born 1999)

Mitchell Reece Clark (born 13 March 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Leicester City. He has represented Wales at youth level.

Mitch Clark
Personal information
Full name Mitchell Reece Clark[1]
Date of birth (1999-03-13) 13 March 1999[2]
Place of birth Nuneaton, England[3]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[4]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Leicester City
Number 52
Youth career
2006–2017 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Aston Villa 0 (0)
2018–2019 → Port Vale (loan) 40 (0)
2019– Leicester City 0 (0)
2020 → Port Vale (loan) 4 (0)
National team
2015–2016 Wales U17 6 (0)
2016–2017 Wales U19 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 7 March 2020 (UTC)

A graduate of the Academy at Aston Villa, he spent the 2018–19 season on loan at Port Vale. He joined Leicester City in July 2019 following his release from Aston Villa. He returned on loan to Port Vale in January 2020.

Club career

Aston Villa

Clark graduated through the Academy at Aston Villa, having been scouted by the club playing for Bedworth Eagles juniors at the age of eight.[5] He made his first-team debut for the "Villans" in the EFL Cup on 22 August 2017, starting the match at left-back in a 4–1 victory over Wigan Athletic at Villa Park.[6] Manager Steve Bruce said that "he had a very good debut considering that he’s played out of position".[7] He was a part of the under-23 squad that finished as runners-up of the Premier League 2 Division Two and won the Premier League Cup during the 2017–18 season.[3] He signed a new contract in March 2018 to keep him at the club until 2019.[8][9]

On 16 August 2018, Clark joined League Two club Port Vale on loan for the rest of the 2018–19 season.[10] Manager Neil Aspin signed him to provide cover at full-back for James Gibbons and Cristian Montaño, after football adviser John Rudge had scouted him playing for the Aston Villa under-23 side.[11] He made his English Football League two days later, starting at left-back for the "Valiants" in a 1–0 win over Crawley Town at Vale Park.[12] He retained his first-team place as the "Valiants" went on a run of poor run of results, though Clark was noted as being one of their better performers.[13] He made a costly mistake to give away a goal during the opening minute of a 2–0 defeat at Grimsby Town on 6 October, but recovered from his mistake and kept his place in the team.[14] He remained a key first-team player under new manager John Askey and played a total of 45 games throughout the 2018–19 season, mainly at right-back, where he linked up well with right-sided midfielder David Worrall.[15] On 3 May, upon returning from his loan spell, Clark was released by Aston Villa manager Dean Smith; his agent claimed there was interest from numerous clubs and said that "I believe that I can take him on to bigger and better things than what he's doing at Port Vale."[16] He went on to change agents the following year, signing with Sports Management International.[17]

Leicester City

On 26 July 2019, Clark signed a three-year deal with Premier League club Leicester City and was placed in Steve Beaglehole's under-23 squad.[18] On 30 January 2020, Clark rejoined Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.[19] He made an impressive second debut two days later, forcing an own goal with a dangerous cross in a 1–1 home draw with Salford City.[20] However he received a straight red card for a reckless late challenge during a 3–2 win at Forest Green Rovers on 11 February.[21] His second loan spell was ended on just four appearances as the league was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.[22]

International career

Clark represented the Wales under-17 team and went on to be named as captain of the under-19 side by manager Paul Bodin.[5]

Style of play

Clark is primarily a right-back, but is also able to play as a right-sided centre-back or at left-back.[5] He is a pacey player with high energy levels who likes to get forward and attack.[5]

Career statistics
As of match played 7 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 2017–18[23] Championship 000010—10
2018–19[24] Championship 000000—00
Total 0000100010
Port Vale (loan) 2018–19[24] League Two 40010004[lower-alpha 1]0450
Leicester City U23 2019–20[25] – 0000005[lower-alpha 1]050
Port Vale (loan) 2019–20[25] League Two 4000000040
Career total 440101090550
  1. Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Aston Villa Academy

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. "Mitchell Clark". 11v11. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  3. Mitch Clark at Soccerway
  4. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2018/2019". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  5. Turner, Andy (13 November 2017). "Mitch Clark's rise to Villa's senior squad: The story so far". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  6. "Aston Villa 4-1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  7. Evans, Gregg (25 August 2017). "Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce on what he likes about Mitch Clark". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  8. "Mitchell Clark signs Aston Villa deal, sends a message on Twitter | Sportslens". Sportslens.com. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  9. "Mitch Clark agrees new deal". www.avfc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  10. "Mitchell Clark: Aston Villa loan Wales Under-19 defender to Port Vale". BBC Sport. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  11. Baggaley, Michael (16 August 2018). "Port Vale sign Aston Villa defender Mitchell Clark on loan". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  12. Baggaley, Michael (19 August 2018). "Port Vale's Aston Villa loan defender Mitchell Clark relishing his chance". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  13. Baggaley, Michael (3 September 2018). "Aston Villa defender Mitch Clark thriving at Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  14. Baggaley, Michael (11 October 2018). "Clark on Port Vale and hoping to be in new Aston Villa boss's long-term plans". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  15. Sherwin, Phil (19 May 2019). "From local heroes who impressed to lost boys: Port Vale class of 2018/19 rated". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  16. Dicken, Alex (3 May 2019). "Revealed: Aston Villa have released this popular defender". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  17. "SMI World · Players". smiworld.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  18. Kemble, Jamie (26 July 2019). "Leicester City sign Mitch Clark after Aston Villa release". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  19. "Mitchell Clark: Leicester City loan defender to Port Vale". BBC Sport. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  20. Baggaley, Michael (2 February 2020). "'I believe in our players' - Askey on Clark and Port Vale's transfer business". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  21. Baggaley, Michael (12 February 2020). "FA reveal bans for Port Vale's Mitch Clark and Tom Pope". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  22. Baggaley, Michael (15 May 2020). "Port Vale give up promotion hopes to try to avert League Two financial crisis". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  23. "Games played by Mitch Clark in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  24. "Games played by Mitch Clark in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  25. "Games played by Mitch Clark in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
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