Scouting report: Huddersfield Town sign Blackpool striker Ashley Fletcher

The 21-goal forward has signed for the Terriers as a free agent after two player-of-the-year seasons at Bloomfield Road

Huddersfield Town have announced centre-forward Ashley Fletcher as their first signing of the summer.

The striker has signed a deal to join the Terriers as a free agent once his contract at Blackpool expires this summer.

His new contract at Town is set to run until at least summer 2028.

Sporting director Chris Markham said in a club statement: “We’re delighted to welcome Ashley to the club ahead of the new campaign, with the timing of the deal especially pleasing before the men’s first team report back for pre-season.

“A player and a character who checks many of our boxes this summer, Ashley arrives in HD1 following two of the most eye-catching seasons of his career to date, having underlined his productivity with consistent availability at Blackpool.

“Reinforcing an area of the pitch for us that required proven personality, ability and profile, Ashley’s arrival is the ideal first addition to Martin’s squad, allowing us the opportunity to readdress the complexion of the wider men’s first team group to be more in line with how we all desire to see Town play football.”

Head coach Martin Drury added: “I’ve seen the way Ashley has impacted games over the last couple of seasons, and I’m confident that his qualities will suit how we’ll play.

“From when we first met, I could see the hunger in his eyes to keep developing himself. Alongside his experience at various levels and the way I envisage him building connections with the other attacking players we have, it gives me belief that Ashley can play a key role in helping us improve.

“I’m looking forward to working with him, as are all the staff at the club.”

Fletcher said: “Heading into this summer, my sole focus was on ensuring I joined the right side to make the most of my game and build on the form I’ve enjoyed in recent seasons.

“After speaking to Chris and Martin there was no doubt about signing for Town, and having played against the club so many times over the years, I couldn’t be more excited to now be on the same team.

“This is a big club with really exciting ambition, but the clarity in knowing how we want to play and the feeling we provide our supporters was what appealed the most.

“The facilities at both Canalside and the stadium are top class, so I’m really looking to the hard work to come in pre-season and doing what I can to set ourselves up for the season ahead.”

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Ashley Fletcher scouting report

A Manchester United academy graduate, Fletcher had previously struggled to get on the scoresheet regularly in the Championship, bar an 11-goal season with Middlesbrough in 2019/20.

His first taste of a return to League One came on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in 2023/24, after which he joined Blackpool at the end of the campaign.

Fletcher’s move to Blackpool sparked something of a renaissance, though. After a good first season at Bloomfield Road that earned him the club’s player of the year award, the striker has just enjoyed the best goalscoring campaign of his career, taking home both the fans’ and players’ player of the year awards.

Blackpool boss Ian Evatt felt Fletcher ‘carried’ his struggling side through large parts of the season, saying in late April: “I have to give huge credit to Fletch, who has scored 21 goals in really difficult circumstances [considering] where we were and how we were performing.

“He’s carried the team a lot with his goals … for many weeks all we had [up front] was [Fletcher and Tom Bloxham], and they didn’t miss a beat.

“They didn’t miss a day’s training or a minute in-game. When this club needed them … to step up, they really did.”

By Fletcher’s own account, his previous struggles came because his game had been misunderstood.