Shrewsbury Town: Get to know latest arrival Sam Clucas

Clucas has had a distinguished career to date, playing in all four of the professional divisions in the English game - including 66 appearances in the Premier League - the Shropshire Star has taken a deeper look into his career. 

Sam Clucas’ footballing journey

Clucas started his career where he is still contracted now - Lincoln City. He made just one appearance for them in the JP Trophy against Darlington before he moved to Hereford. 

At Hereford, he made more than 60 appearances between November 2011 and June 2013, and it was his spell there which saw him secure a two-year deal at Mansfield. 

That was where his relationship with Town’s director of football first came about - he was assistant manager at Mansfield at the time. 

Clucas turned down a contract at Crewe in the league above to sign for Mansfield, and he made 43 appearances there scoring 13 goals in League Two. 

That saw him move to Chesterfield the year after for an undisclosed fee where he stepped up to League One making another 55 appearances, scoring 12 times and getting to the third-tier play-off final. 

It was that point where things got really big for Clucas. He joined Hull for £1.3 million and went on to make another 52 appearances during his first season in the Championship which saw the Tigers get promotion to the Premier League - he played another 41 times the next campaign in the top flight. 

In August 2017, he moved to Swansea City in a deal worth £15 million plus £1.5 million worth of add-ons. He stayed just a season before making the move to Stoke City - the club he has played for the most. He made 131 Championship appearances for the Potters between August 2018 and September 2023 when he left to join Rotherham on a free transfer. 

He signed for Oldham in October 2024 making seven appearances in the National League before moving back to the third-tier to play for Lincoln where he was released just a few weeks back.  

He started out as a left winger, but in his later years he has played as a deep-lying central midfielder, and he likes to get on the ball and dictate play. 

“I have played a few positions over the years,” he said after signing for Town. I can still play a few positions, but mainly I have been playing as a number six over the last few years. I can also play as an eight. 

“I am a ball player. I want to get on the ball, so I don’t want to see the ball going over my head all game. So it is nice when you have a manager who wants to play through the thirds and try and use you in there. It is important. 

“As a six or as an eight you play a big role in that shape, so I am looking forward to pre-season and trying to get used to all the players and the way we play. Hopefully, it will be a really exciting season going forward."