Charlton Athletic has officially announced the activation of a clause in Thierry Small’s contract, ensuring the young defender will stay with the club for another season.
Previously, our website had exclusively reported that Charlton opted to extend the 19-year-old full-back’s contract by an additional 12 months. There had been rumors linking Small with a potential move to Derby County, but the South London Press confirmed over the weekend that Charlton had not received any contact from the newly-promoted Championship side.
Thierry Small, who joined Charlton in early February after his release from Southampton, quickly became a crucial player for Nathan Jones’ team towards the end of the last campaign. Charlton’s technical director, Andy Scott, expressed his satisfaction with the decision, saying, “We had to trigger the one-year extension by May 15 – which is what we’ve done, and we’re pleased that Thierry will be with us next season.”
Scott praised Small’s performance since joining Charlton and revealed the club’s plans for his future. “He’s done really well since he joined us. We’ve made him a long-term contract offer, as we feel he has a lot of ability and potential. He can learn and develop under the guidance of Nathan Jones and our staff and contribute to the club next season and as we progress,” he added.
Negotiations for a long-term contract will continue when Small returns from his break, as Charlton remains keen on securing the defender’s services for the foreseeable future.
