Clarke-Salter first joined Chelsea in 2006 and spent the rest of his youth career there bar one season at Sutton United.[4][5] He made his under-18 breakthrough at Chelsea in December 2013 whilst still sixteen years old. He became a key figure and the under-18 captain in Chelsea's youth surge after winning the FA Youth Cup twice and the UEFA Youth League.[6] Clarke-Salter was included in Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US in 2015.[7] However, he failed to make a single appearance in Chelsea's disappointing campaign.
On 5 March 2016, Clarke-Salter appeared on Chelsea's substitutes' bench in a 1–1 draw with Stoke City.[8] On 2 April, he made his professional debut in Chelsea's 4–0 victory at Aston Villa, replacing Pedro in the 74th minute.[9] After the match John Terry praised his performance and attitude, and hoped that Clarke-Salter went on to replace him one day.[10]
2016–17 season: Loan to Bristol Rovers
On 31 August 2016, Clarke-Salter and teammate Charlie Colkett joined League One club Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan.[11] Unlike Colkett, Clarke-Salter did not join up with Rovers immediately, but remained at Chelsea while recovering from an injury sustained on international duty.[12]
Clarke-Salter made his debut on 28 September 2016, starting in a 1–0 defeat away to Sheffield United.[13] On his second appearance, on 18 October, he cut the ball back to provide the assist for the second goal of Matt Taylor's hat-trick as Rovers came back from 3–1 down to draw 3–3 with Milton Keynes Dons.[14] Four days later he scored his first goal for Rovers with an 87th-minute header to complete a 2–0 win over Oldham Athletic.[15] Clarke-Salter dislocated his elbow and broke a bone in his forearm during the 5–1 loss to Charlton Athletic in November and was out for nearly four months.[16] He made his return as an 89th-minute substitute against Southend United in March 2017,[17] but did not start a match until 11 April, in a 1–0 victory over AFC Wimbledon, and finished the season with just 13 appearances.[18][19]
2017–18 season: Return to Chelsea and loan to Sunderland
Following a loan spell at Notts county, Clarke-Salter returned to Chelsea and signed a new four-year deal in July 2017.[20] He was given the number 35 jersey and made his first appearance of the 2017–18 season during Chelsea's 5–1 EFL Cup victory over Nottingham Forest.[21]
On 8 January 2018, Clarke-Salter joined Championship club Sunderland on loan for the remainder of the campaign.[22] Just under a week later, he made his debut during Sunderland's 4–0 away defeat against Cardiff City, playing the full 90 minutes.[23] On 24 February 2018, Clarke-Salter was shown a red card for what BBC Sport's reporter saw as a "nasty late challenge" on Middlesbrough's Adama Traoré in a match that ended as a 3–3 draw.[24] In his first game back from suspension, Clarke-Salter was dismissed again after receiving a second yellow card in a 2–0 defeat against Preston North End.[25] He finished the loan spell with nine appearances.[26]
2018–19 season: Loan to Vitesse
On 2 July 2018, Clarke-Salter agreed to join Dutch side Vitesse on a season-long loan.[27]
2019–20 season: Loan to Birmingham City
Clarke-Salter signed for Championship club Birmingham City on 24 July 2019 on loan for the season.[28] He made his debut on 6 August in the EFL Cup first round visit to Portsmouth. Manager Pep Clotet fielded an inexperienced team, and Clarke-Salter played the whole of the 3–0 defeat.[29] He did not play in the Championship until 1 October, taking the place of the injured Marc Roberts in the starting eleven for the 1–0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic. According to the manager, "he played with a lot of maturity, he was very focused, he dealt very well with the physicality of the game and worked very well with Harlee [Dean] as well. He also covered the line very well. I think on the ball he was very good as well so it was a very positive game for him."[30] His performance was similarly positive in his next appearance a month later, when he replaced the suspended Dean for a 1–0 defeat at home to Fulham.[31] He scored his first goal for Birmingham in a 1–1 draw with Millwall on 30 November.[32]
2020–21 season: Loan return to Birmingham City
On 16 October 2020, Clarke-Salter returned to Birmingham City on loan for the remainder of the season.[33] A calf injury kept him out until after the international break, and he made his debut on 24 November away to Luton Town as one of three centre-backs alongside Dean and Roberts.[34][35] He was a regular in the matchday squad for the next three months, made nine starts, mainly as cover for injured or suspended players, and one substitute appearance.[19][36] Apart from one poor game away to Cardiff City,[37] he performed adequately, showing technical competence that his fellow defenders did not,[38] but the Birmingham Mail suggested that overall he had wasted his season by spending it on Birmingham's bench.[39]
2021-22 season: Loan to Coventry City
On 13 August 2021, Clarke-Salter joined Championship club Coventry City on a loan deal until the end of the season. Clarke-Salter was a mainstay in the Coventry team in a largely successful loan spell, making 29 appearances for the Sky Blues, with injury hampering him from making more. On 10 June 2022, Chelsea announced he was leaving the club.[40]
Queens Park Rangers
On 17 June 2022, Clarke-Salter joined Championship club Queens Park Rangers on a four-year deal.[41]
International career
Clarke-Salter was born in England, and is of Irish descent through a grandmother, and is eligible to represent both countries internationally.[42] He was selected for the England U20 in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played in four of the seven games, but in the final he conceded a controversial penalty that was saved by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.[43] England beat Venezuela 1–0, the first time an England team had won a global tournament since the 1966 World Cup.[44]
^"Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
^"Jake Clarke-Salter". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
^"Jake Clarke-Salter". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
^"SUTTON UNITED COLTS UNDER 11's". Sutton United F.C. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
^"Jake Clarke-Salter: Who is Sunderland's new loan signing?". SportsByte. University of Sunderland Institute of Sport. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ a b"Jake Clarke-Salter". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
^Pasztor, David (16 July 2015). "Coming to America: Here's the squad list for Chelsea's USA Tour". We Ain't Got No History. SB Nation. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
^Begley, Emlyn (5 March 2016). "Chelsea 1–1 Stoke City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^Henson, Mike (2 April 2016). "Aston Villa 0–4 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^Lewis, Darren (14 April 2016). "John Terry talks up Chelsea starlet Jake Clarke-Salter as his long-term replacement in Blues defence". The Mirror. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Clarke-Salter and Colkett head to Rovers". Chelsea F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^McNamara, James (16 September 2016). "When will Chelsea youngster Jake Clarke-Salter join Bristol Rovers?". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
^McNamara, James (28 September 2016). "How did Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter play on Bristol Rovers debut at Sheffield United?". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 29 September 2016.
^"Report: MK Dons 3–3 Bristol Rovers". MK Dons. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Oldham Athletic 0–2 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. Press Association. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^Vittles, Jack (27 April 2017). "Bristol Rovers' Chelsea loan star gives his verdict on his season and discusses friendship with Bristol City's Tammy Abraham". Bristol Post. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^McNamara, James (11 March 2017). "Bristol Rovers 2 Southend United 0: Darrell Clarke's side go nine unbeaten in Sky Bet League One". Bristol Post. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"AFC Wimbledon 0–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. Press Association. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^ a b c"J. Clarke-Salter". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
^"Clarke-Salter signs new contract". Chelsea F.C. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
^Phillips, Owen (20 September 2017). "Chelsea 5–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Clarke-Salter heads north". Chelsea F.C. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
^Pritchard, Dafydd (13 January 2018). "Cardiff City 4–0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Sunderland 3–3 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Sunderland 0–2 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Jake Clarke-Salter vijfde aanwinst" [Jake Clarke-Salter fifth signing] (in Dutch). SBV Vitesse. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Jake Clarke-Salter: Chelsea youngster joins Birmingham City on loan". BBC Sport. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
^Chapman, Joseph (6 August 2019). "Birmingham City player ratings: Jude Bellingham shines bright despite defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
^Dick, Brian (2 October 2019). "'Maturity' How this Chelsea starlet fared on his Birmingham City Championship debut". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
^Dick, Brian (9 November 2019). "Here's what Birmingham City boss Pep Clotet thought of Jeremie Bela and Jake Clarke-Salter". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
^"Birmingham 1–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
^"Clarke-Salter back at Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
^Dick, Brian (22 October 2020). "Birmingham City hit by injury to Chelsea loan man as Aitor Karanka provides fitness update". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
^Dick, Brian (24 November 2020). "'Befuddled' – Player ratings as Birmingham City escape Luton Town with a point". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
^Dick, Brian (3 February 2021). "'Funereal silence' - The question facing Birmingham City after Wycombe stalemate". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
^Dick, Brian (17 December 2020). "Where Aubameyang and Hazard passed and Wilson and Maddison failed Birmingham City star test". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
^Dick, Brian (21 February 2021). "An Edinson Cavani moment and the return of the Chelsea man – Birmingham City talking points". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
^Dick, Brian (13 May 2021). "'Bitter disappointment' – Aitor Karanka and Xuandong Ren's transfers graded one season on". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
^"Farewell to Christensen, Drinkwater, Musonda and Clarke-Salter". Chelsea F.C. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
^Morrissey, Paul (17 June 2022). "Jake Clarke-Salter is a Ranger!". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
^Fallon, John (6 July 2022). "John Fallon: Jake Clarke-Slater's plea a tired, well-worn path". Irish Examiner.
^Johnson, Simon (12 June 2017). "Chelsea duo Fikayo Tomori and Jake Clarke-Salter in demand after England's U20s World Cup win". Evening Standard. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^ a b"Under-20 World Cup: England beat Venezuela in final". BBC Sport. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
^"England U21 2–1 Romania U21". BBC Sport. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^Veevers, Nicholas (17 June 2019). "England U21s will be captained by Jake Clarke-Salter at the Euro Finals in Italy". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ a b"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ a b"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ a b"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ a b"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ a b"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ a b"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
^"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
^"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
^"Games played by Jake Clarke-Salter in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
^"Final fightback takes England U21s to Toulon hat-trick with win over Mexico". The Football Association. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
^"Steve Cook named QPR fans' player of the season". QPR. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jake Clarke-Salter.