Hartlepool United

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Hartlepool United have brought in defender Liam Gibson following the expiry of his contract with Harrogate Town.

Gibson has signed a one-year deal at Victoria Park after three seasons with the Sulphurites, with his new club holding the option of an extra year.

The County Durham-born defender, 29, was on the books at Newcastle United as a youngster.

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Hartlepool United have signed defender Neo Eccleston from Huddersfield Town.

Eccleston, 22, only played three times for Huddersfield after moving from Chelsea's academy but has had loan spells in League Two with Barrow and Grimsby Town.

He has signed a one-year contract at Victoria Park, but the club has the option of another year.

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Hartlepool have signed striker Terry Bondo on a one-year deal.

The 19-year-old was a free agent after being released by Blackpool at the end of the season.

He made 11 appearances for the Seasiders and had loan spells in non-league with Matlock Town, Marine and King's Lynn Town.

"I'm still at the beginning of my career and I know there's a lot more to come from me," he told the club's website., external

Pools have the option of an additional 12 months on the deal.

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Hartlepool have signed former Brighton defender Charlie Penman on a one-year deal.

The 20-year-old was released by the Premier League side earlier this summer.

He never made a senior appearance for the Seagulls but played nine times for Aldershot during a loan spell with the National League side last season.

"Charlie has come here because he wants to establish himself in senior football and forge a successful career in the game," boss Lee Clark told the club website., external

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Hartlepool have signed forward Chris Popov on a two-year deal following his departure from Leicester City.

The 21-year-old made one senior appearance for the Foxes during the EFL Cup and spent time on loan at Barrow and Morecambe during the past two seasons.

Popov has also represented Wales at various age grade levels including 17 games for their under-21 team.

He links up with new Pools signing Jack Nolan, who he played alongside at the Shrimpers combining for 26 goals during the second half of last season.

Tamworth have taken their tally of signings for the week to eight by bringing in defenders Tom Parkes and Tyler Lyttle.

Centre-back Parkes, 34, arrives from fellow National League side Hartlepool United, while full-back Lyttle, 29, joins from Brackley Town.

Parkes made more than 300 appearances in the Football League, primarily for Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient, Carlisle United and Exeter City, while Lyttle has spent most of his career in non-league.

National League club Tamworth were taken over last week by 24-year-old American businessman Abdullah Ashraf.

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Hartlepool United goalkeeper Adam Smith has signed a new deal to remain with the National League side next season.

The 33-year-old will continue as both a player and first-team goalkeeping coach, with a club option for a further year.

Having joined Pools in August 2024, Smith has since made 33 appearances.

"Since arriving at Pools, I've built a real connection with the football club both on and off the pitch and it was important for me to continue that journey," he said.

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Adam Clayton has been reunited with Lee Clark at Hartlepool United after signing a two-year deal to become his number two.

Clayton, 37, featured under Clark at Huddersfield Town following their promotion to the Championship in 2012.

The former midfielder also had spells at Leeds United and Middlesbrough during a playing career of more than 500 games.

Clayton had his first managerial role in charge of non-league Matlock Town for 12 months until March and he told the Hartlepool website:, external "I've spent a long time in football and have been fortunate enough to work at some excellent clubs throughout my career.

"You get a feel very quickly for the direction a club is heading and I was hugely impressed by the plans that have been put in place here."

Clark, who became head coach at the National League side last month, said: "We worked together at Huddersfield and I've followed his career closely ever since.

"He will be a huge asset for us on the training pitch and in the dressing room."

Hartlepool United have brought in Corey McKeown from National League North side Spennymoor Town.

The winger, 22, has signed a one-year contract, with the club having the option to extend it to a second year.

McKeown is the fourth player signed by Pools already under their new boss Lee Clark.

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Hartlepool United have signed winger Brooklyn Ilunga on a two-year deal after his contract ended at Bromley.

The 22-year-old joins the Teesside club having made more than 100 senior appearances.

Having come out of the MK Dons academy, Ilunga went on to join Bromley in January 2025 and helped them win the League Two title last term.

"There is a real determination throughout the football club to build a strong, competitive group capable of challenging this season and I wanted to be part of that," he said.

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Hartlepool United have signed forward Jack Nolan on a two-year deal following the expiry of his contract with Morecambe.

The 25-year-old scored 19 goals for Morecambe despite their relegation from the National League and was their leading goalscorer.

He joins Pools on a contract until the end of the 2027-28 season.

"Pools is a massive football club with a proud history, passionate supporters and clear ambition for the future," he said.

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Hartlepool United midfielder Jack Hunter has signed a new one-year deal.

The 28-year-old, who came through Newcastle's academy, joined Pools from Halifax in July 2024 and has made 64 league appearances.

"The supporters have been brilliant with me since day one and I've loved my time here over the last two seasons," Hunter, who can also play at centre-back, told the club website., external

"Obviously, as players, we all wish we'd achieved more during that period because the supporters deserve success, but there's a real determination from everyone to improve and push things forward."

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Hartlepool United have agreed a new one-year deal with forward Luke Charman, with the club having the option of a further 12 months until the summer of 2028.

Charman, 28, has scored seven goals in 66 games for Pools since joining from Fylde in 2024.

He is the first player tied to a new deal under Hartlepool's new head coach Lee Clark.