James Clarke

Clarke's current-season form is down 85% on last season (Season 13→2), while his Rating eased 9→6. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 17).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Newport County · 20th	12	0	0	6.65	6	2
2024/25	Newport County · 22nd	24	1	1	6.95	9	13
2023/24	Newport County · 18th	25	0	3	6.91	11	14
2022/23	Newport County · 15th	23	0	0	6.63	13	12
2021/22	Newport County · 11th	35	1	1	6.67	17	17

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 12 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

J. Clarke is a 36-year-old central defender at Cardiff, rated 5.9 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 213th of 213 on scout potential in the League One. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (20.5% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.27 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Clarke.

Judged on this season alone, Clarke graded 2 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 64th of 64 of the 64 centre-backs in the League One, on 1 clean sheet and 1.274 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 13 → 2). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 6, 64th of 64 of the 64 centre-backs in the League One. At 36 Clarke is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.4 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2021/22 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2021/22Trending downRemarkably consistent

Current potential64th of 64 centre-backs · League One · 12 apps Current season64th of 64 centre-backs · League One · 12 apps 64th-best centre-back in the League One 213th in the League One · potential 64th-highest potential centre-back in the League One

5.9

Ratingi

64th of 64 centre-backs

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

20.5%

Minutes

limited game time

1.27

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Cardiff finished 19th of 24 · a lower-table side

Apps

1.27

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

1.27 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 12 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (19th of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight.

Watch points

Game time. Only 20.5% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 36, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 5.9, Clarke carries the 64th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the League One of 64 — though on just 12 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.27 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.6× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %20.5%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 901.274

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Shot conversion %0

Shot accuracy %50

Pass accuracy %77

Cards / 900

Foul involvement / 901.804

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 22–27 (~1), then tapers with age. At 36, Clarke sits on 0.4, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Clarke's projected Rating — 5.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Shots on target2

Shots4

Passing

Assists0

Chances created3

Passes308

Pass accuracy77%

Possession

Duels won50

Duels won %61%

Fouls won12

Defending

Tackles4

Interceptions4

Blocks4

Fouls committed5

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

CardiffFeb 2026 – nowFree

Newport CountyJul 2021 – Feb 2026Free

WalsallJul 2019 – Jul 2021Free

Bristol RoversJul 2015 – Jul 2019Free

WWokinguntil Jul 2015

About J. Clarke

James Anthony John Clarke is a 36-year-old centre-back who plays for Cardiff, born on November 17, 1989 in Aylesbury, standing 183 cm tall. He is from England.

This season

In the current season, J. Clarke has made 12 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 848 minutes.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Clarke at 5.9 with a Season form score of 2, ranking 213th of 213 centre-backs in the League One. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 17 recorded seasons, J. Clarke has totalled 401 club appearances with 9 goals and 5 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2018/19, with 42 appearances for Bristol Rovers.

J. Clarke's career has also included time at Newport County, Walsall, Bristol Rovers and WWoking.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Also this season

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Cardiff finished 19th of 24 · a lower-table side

Watch points