Charlton Athletic book a place in the League One play-off final.Charlton Athletic book a place in the League One play-off final.
Charlton Athletic book a place in the League One play-off final. | Getty Images
Charlton Athletic defender Thierry Small was eye catching in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old is out of contract at The Valley next month but it’s no secret that Nathan Jones is hoping to keep the defender in London. In his outing against Wycombe Wanderers, it’s clear to see why.
Small put in a mammoth shift in the right wing-back role, constantly trucking up and down that flank to fill the roles of both a defender and a winger. It was a big night for the Addicks with a place at Wembley Stadium at stake and he was up for it right away.
Thierry Small turns in ‘sublime’ performance against Wycombe Wanderers
With 22 minutes on the clock, Small had the Chairboys defenders skittled as he pulled out flicks and tricks on the edge of the box, eventually delivering a dangerous ball into the back post. Before half time the full-back also turned Adam Reach with a sublime piece of control using the outside of his boot. That was a moment from the leagues above the third tier.
Small was still at it after the break. It almost looked as if he was playing FIFA in the way he strode through the Wycombe Wanderers half at ease to whip a ball towards Tyreece Campbell, which the striker couldn’t finish. He was at it again 10 minutes later, cutting inside to the edge of the box with style and firing narrowly wide - calls of ‘Thierry, woahh’ rang around The Valley.
The player isn’t afraid to do the dirty work either. Every header that went in his reach was met confidently and the Chairboys posed little threat on that flank.
Championship clubs circle Charlton Athletic talent
Football League World carried those reports of Millwall and Blackburn Rovers interest last week and, even if they weren’t concrete, those Championship teams will no doubt have had interest piqued now. Preston North End and Oxford United were also named as suitors.
The Addicks would be entitled to a compensation fee should Small leave and find another club due to his young age, but that fee would not be the same as what he could command if under contract.
Nathan Jones did not want to bite when asked about Preston North End interest in the player last month. He said: “No contact from anyone. Part of my remit is to work with young players and develop young players to make them assets for the football club. There you go.”
The former Everton and Southampton man is a product of the Toffees’ academy. He only ever made one first team appearance for Everton and one for Southampton before joining the Addicks.
The ex England under-20 international was in three matchday squads for Southampton in the Premier League during the 2021/22 season, against Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and Wolves, but never saw any minutes.
Speaking earlier in 2025, having scored his first goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town at The Valley in a dramatic 96th minute winner, Small hinted that he would like to continue his progress at the club. He said: “It’s currently under negotiations and I’m just letting my agent deal with it. We will just see where it goes from there. I would love to stay.”
In other news, Charlton Athletic Player Ratings: Build 10/10 a statue and 'dominant' 9 in unforgettable Wycombe Wanderers win.
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