Scouting report as Huddersfield Town announce Archie Collins signing

The former Exeter and Peterborough midfielder has made the move to Accu Stadium

Huddersfield Town have announced the signing of midfielder Archie Collins on a two-year contract.

The 26-year-old has been a free agent since leaving Peterborough United at the end of his contract earlier this summer.

Collins will wear number 8 for the Terriers.

Town sporting director Chris Markham said in a club statement: “Archie is an exciting signing for us, and he will compliment the options we already have available to us in midfield nicely.

“A well balanced midfielder who can be effective in managing all different types of games, he make those around him better as well as showing he can consistently produce a high level of performance himself.

“We’ve been patient to ensure that we got the right player in what has been a key position for us, which we believe Archie to be.

“At both Exeter City and Peterborough United he made himself an indispensable part of their sides, and he has barely missed a game since stepping up to senior football - another important factor in our recruitment this summer.

“Following our meetings with him, he understands the brand of football we’re trying to play this season and he has every characteristic you would hope to see from Huddersfield Town’s number eight.”

Head coach Martin Drury added: “Archie is a player I have admired for a while and I’m delighted that he has joined us.

“He’s a player with excellent game understanding, he has a calmness in how he plays and he knows how to control the rhythm of games. This all comes from his willingness to get on the ball in any scenario.

“Alongside this, he has shown over recent years how much he values the other parts of the game and his work ethic aligns with how we want to look without the ball. He’s been a captain in his previous clubs and his leadership qualities will help support the group.

“I believe he will compliment the other midfielders we have and as their relationships build over time, I feel we will continue to develop how we want to play and the identity of our team.

“I thank Kevin [Nagle], Chris [Markham] and Dave [Threlfall-Sykes] for their continued support as we navigate through this challenging window, trying to add the right people and players to represent Huddersfield Town in the best way possible.”

Collins said: “Entering the summer as a free agent was a conscious choice at this stage of my career.

“Having enjoyed an incredible time on and off the pitch at Peterborough United, I was ready to push myself again with a new challenge, and being without a club has given me the benefit of being able to control my destiny and pick the side that felt like the best fit for me.

“Having spoken to a number of clubs both in this division and higher, my main motivations were to find a side that shared my aspirations and would give me the best chance of taking my game and career to the next level.

“After conversations with both the sporting director and gaffer here, I knew that this was where I wanted to be, and I couldn’t be happier to have it complete. I’m really excited to be a Town player, and I can’t wait to get going.”

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Scouting report: Archie Collins

An Exeter City youth product, Collins was loved by fans of the club where he made his breakthrough, helping them to promotion before making the move to Peterborough in 2023.

Collins has been a first-team regular across his two clubs since making his breakthrough into senior football in 2018/19.

This has been helped by a great track record with his fitness and availability, having made 38+ league appearances in each of the past six seasons, and 50+ appearances in all competitions in each of his three years at Peterborough — the last two of which saw him win the club’s player the year award.

At 26 years old, the only significant layoff Collins has suffered in his career was a knee injury sustained in a friendly played in the summer of 2021. That kept him out of Exeter’s first eight games of the 2021/22 campaign before he returned to play a part in every one of their remaining games.

Collins comes with strong references as a professional, too. When he left for the Posh, his former Exeter boss Gary Caldwell said: “In the short time I have worked with Archie he has been both a fantastic player and person. He has given so much to the club since joining the Academy as a youngster and is a fantastic example for the academy players breaking into the first team set-up.”

So how good is Archie Collins at football and what would he bring to Huddersfield Town?