Sean Clare
English footballer (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sean James Kweku Clare (born 18 September 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for EFL League One club Leyton Orient. He has previously played for Sheffield Wednesday, Heart of Midlothian, Oxford United, Charlton Athletic and Wigan Athletic and had loan spells at Bury, Accrington Stanley, Gillingham and Burton Albion.
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Clare in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sean James Kweku Clare[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 September 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Hackney, England | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Leyton Orient | ||
| Number | 28 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Charlton Athletic[3] | |||
| –2016 | Nike Academy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Sheffield Wednesday | 5 | (1) |
| 2016 | → Bury (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | → Accrington Stanley (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | → Gillingham (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2018–2020 | Heart of Midlothian | 54 | (7) |
| 2020–2021 | Oxford United | 17 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Burton Albion (loan) | 20 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Charlton Athletic | 76 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Wigan Athletic | 33 | (1) |
| 2024– | Leyton Orient | 58 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 7 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Sheffield Wednesday
In February 2016, after leaving the Nike Academy, Clare signed a contract with Sheffield Wednesday until 2017.[4] He scored his first goal for Wednesday in a 4–2 defeat to Aston Villa on 24 February 2018.[5]
Bury (loan)
In March 2016 he signed for Bury on loan,[6] making his professional debut on 5 March against Bradford City.
Accrington Stanley (loan)
On 20 January 2017 he signed a loan until the end of the season with Accrington Stanley. Accrington manager John Coleman stated he was happy to add another attacking option to the squad with the signing of Clare.[7] His first appearance for Accrington was part of a 1–1 draw against Carlisle United.[8]
Gillingham (loan)
On 31 August 2017, he signed for Gillingham on loan until 3 January.[9] He scored his first league goal for the club in his second appearance, against AFC Wimbledon on 12 September 2017.[10]
In January 2018 Clare was recalled from his loan spell back to Sheffield Wednesday making his first senior debut in a 0–0 draw against city rivals Sheffield United.[11]
Heart of Midlothian
Clare signed a three-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian in September 2018. Clare featured for Hearts in the 2019 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 1–2 to Celtic.[12]
Oxford United
On 6 August 2020, Clare signed for League One club Oxford United, for an undisclosed fee, on a three-year deal.[13]
Burton Albion (loan)
On 12 January 2021, Clare joined League One side Burton Albion on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[14] He scored his first goal for Burton in a 2–1 defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 23 March 2021.[15]
Charlton Athletic
On 20 July 2021, Clare joined League One side Charlton Athletic on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[16]
On 13 May 2023, it was announced that Clare would leave the club when his contract expired in June.[17]
Wigan Athletic
On 11 July 2023, Clare joined Wigan Athletic on a three-year deal.[18]
Leyton Orient
On 21 July 2024, Clare signed for fellow League One side Leyton Orient on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[19]
Personal life
Born in England, Clare is of Irish and Ghanaian descent.[20]
Career statistics
- As of match played 5 December 2025[21]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2015–16[22] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016–17[23] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[24] | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Sheffield Wednesday total | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Bury (loan) | 2015–16[22] | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2016–17[23] | League Two | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Gillingham (loan) | 2017–18[24] | League One | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| Heart of Midlothian | 2018–19[25] | Scottish Premiership | 28 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 6 |
| 2019–20[26] | 26 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 6 | ||
| Heart of Midlothian total | 54 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 12 | ||
| Oxford United | 2020–21[27] | League One | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Burton Albion (loan) | 2020–21[27] | League One | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Charlton Athletic | 2021–22[28] | League One | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 43 | 1 |
| 2022–23[29] | 40 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 49 | 1 | ||
| Charlton Athletic total | 76 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 92 | 2 | ||
| Wigan Athletic | 2023–24[30] | League One | 33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| Leyton Orient | 2024–25[31] | League One | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[f] | 0 | 36 | 3 |
| 2025–26[32] | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[g] | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Leyton Orient total | 46 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 284 | 17 | 25 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 343 | 22 | ||
- Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
- Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
- Three appearances in the EFL Trophy
- Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
- Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
- Two appearances in the EFL Trophy and three appearances in the EFL League One play-offs
- Three appearances in the EFL Trophy
Media work
In June 2020, Clare appeared in a special podcast panel discussing his experiences of racism in football with A View from the Terrace host Craig Fowler.[33]
Honours
Heart of Midlothian
- Scottish Cup: runner-up: 2018–19[12]
