Macclesfield have confirmed the return of Love Island All Stars winner Tom Clare on a free transfer, as confirmed via the club’s social media post.
The 24-year-old forward has returned to the seventh-tier side on a free transfer for the first time since he left to pursue his return to the Love Island villa during the latest series which aired on British TV in January 2024.
What does the return mean for the club?
It’s common knowledge that the return of Tom Clare will bring public attention back onto the Non-League side, which they will be hoping to use as motivation to seal promotion into the National League North at the end of the current campaign.
However, the club are also gaining a boost in the final third, with Clare already being a popular figure with Macclesfield and having experience with the likes of League Two side Bradford City and National League North side Boston United.
Are there any drawbacks to this deal?
Simply put, aside from rival fans claiming this transfer is a “publicity stunt’ from Macclesfield, the move itself is a low-risk high-reward transfer.
Clare is joining the club on a free transfer and is likely to be on a low wage, which means financially the club aren’t losing out. If he is successful, he could help his side to return to the National League system for the first time since the Macclesfield Town days.
Alternatively, even if the move doesn’t work out, the publicity that Clare will bring will be enough to provide an increase in match income which will continue to benefit the football club financially.
How has this move been perceived?
The response on social media has been almost all positive since Macclesfield confirmed Clare’s return and even on his own social media, the comments are full of supportive and welcoming messages from the club’s fans.