Tue 02 July 2019, 12:08
Tottenham HotspurJack Clarke has spoken of his excitement at joining “one of the biggest clubs in England, if not the world.”
A stand-out prospect at Leeds United, the teenager broke through into the first team at Elland Road last season and caught the eye during his 25 appearances for the Championship promotion-chasers.
A lively winger with an eye for goal – he scored against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest in the second-tier last term – the young man from York is hungry to keep pushing himself to improve and hopes to be in a position to make an impact for us in the years to come.
“I’m delighted to sign for such a top club,” said the 18-year-old, who has been with Leeds since just before his seventh birthday and will remain with them on loan for the 2019/20 campaign.
“Last season was my first at senior level so I wasn’t really expecting to come in and play as much as I did, but it was good for me just to get used to professional football.
“Ever since I’ve been growing up, I’ve seen Tottenham playing in the Premier League, they’ve always been there or thereabouts, pushing, being a top side. It’s one of the biggest clubs in England, if not the world, and I’m just delighted to be a part of it.”
Named Leeds’ Young Player of the Year in 2018/19, Jack featured as a substitute on a number of occasions in the closing weeks of the season, including both legs of the Whites’ Championship play-off semi-final clash with Derby County. His manager at Elland Road? None other than Marcelo Bielsa, the legendary Argentine coach known to have had a big influence on Mauricio Pochettino’s career as a player and manager.
“Obviously (Mauricio) is one of the best coaches in the world, a top, top manager,” Jack told Spurs TV. “Hopefully he can help me push on and progress myself. I just want to carry on from where I left off at Leeds, kick on even more and then hopefully (following his loan) make an impact big enough to be in and around the team.
“I feel like I play with a no-fear attitude and hopefully I can show that on the pitch. It doesn’t bother me whether I’m playing at the park or playing in front of fans, I just play the same. I think that’s a good thing. I like taking players on and creating opportunities.”
Following his stint back at his boyhood club, Jack can look forward to calling our new home his own: “I had a look around the new stadium before I signed and it was a stand-out moment,” he said. “It’s a top, top stadium.
“This is such a big club. Watching the team in the Champions League last season and seeing how well they did, then with the training ground, the facilities and obviously the bunch of players that are here… they’re top players and I’m looking forward to getting to play with them and train with them. I feel like this club could really help me push on as a player and I don’t think I could be in a better environment.
“It’s unreal to be here. It’s definitely something I couldn’t have imagined a couple of years ago but now I’m really looking forward to everything.”
