Brayden Clarke

Brayden Clarke
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-07-03) 3 July 2007 (age 17)[1]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 74
Youth career
–2016 West Hagley & Stourbridge FC
2016–2024 Wolves
2024– Arsenal
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Wales U16 6 (0)
2022–2024 Wales U17 19 (0)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024

Brayden Clarke (born 3 July 2007) is a footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League side Arsenal.[2] Born in England, he has represented Wales at youth level.

Early career

Clarke was born on 3 July 2007 in Birmingham, West Midlands as his father Nigel Quashie was playing for West Bromwich Albion at the time. In 2004, at the age of three, he moved to Hagley. He started his youth career at local club West Hagley and Stourbridge FC before joining the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy at nine years old.[3]

In December 2022, at the age of 15, he made his debut for the Wolves U21 side.[4]

In March 2024, he joined the academy of fellow Premier League club Arsenal.[5][6][7]

In July 2024, he signed his first professional contract with Arsenal

International career

Clarke was born in England and is of Ghanaian, English and Scottish descent through his father, and Welsh and English descent through his mother.[3] At the age of 15, he made his debut for Wales U17s.[8] He featured for Wales at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2023 and 2024.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Brayden Clarke". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Brayden Clarke". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Young Gun: Brayden Clarke". Arsenal F.C. 11 April 2024.
  4. ^ "15-year-old joins Wolves first team training as rapid rise continues". Birmingham Mail. 2 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Arsenal confirm signing of Welsh wonderkid Brayden Clarke from Wolves, with starlet set to work his way up from U18s". Goal.com. 16 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Brayden Clarke: Arsenal confirm signing of 16-year-old wonderkid hours before surprise debut". Evening Standard. 16 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Arsenal sign teenager Clarke after Wolves exit". The Athletic. 16 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Wolves youngster Brayden Clarke making history with Wales". Express and Star. 5 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Wolves and Aston Villa forwards jet off for under-17s European Championship". Shropshire Star. 20 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Cymru squad announced for 2024 UEFA EURO U17 finals". Football Association of Wales. 26 April 2024.