When Southampton secured the signing of 17-year-old Thierry Small in 2021 it was viewed as a real coup for the club.
Widely considered the best left-back in English youth football at the time, Small was keen to progress his career and turned down the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich to sign for Southampton having decided to leave Everton.
When Small was handed his debut by Carlo Ancelotti in an FA Cup clash in 2018, he became Everton’s youngest post-war player at just 16 years, five months and 23 days. The full-back certainly did not leave the Toffees because of any perceived lack of faith from the club, with then under-23s manager David Unsworth confirming: “We made him an unbelievable offer, we didn’t want him to leave.”
Southampton’s academy has produced some real gems over the years, with the likes of Matt Le Tissier, Alan Shearer and Gareth Bale all graduates. More recently, the club has found success from signing players from elite academies by providing them with a clear pathway to first team football and, when Southampton announced the signing of Small, journalist Simon Peach posted on ‘X’: ‘Another exciting young signing at #SaintsFC. Highly-rated 17-year-old Thierry Small has joined from #EFC on a three-year professional deal’.
The likes of the recently sold Roméo Lavia and Tino Livramento are evidence of this approach, as well as current players Gavin Bazunu, Sam Edozie and Shea Charles. This was no doubt a huge factor in Small’s decision, however it did not quite work out the same way; the England youth player only making one senior appearance before having his contract terminated by mutual agreement in February this year.
Thierry Small impressing at Charlton
That single Southampton appearance came in an FA Cup fourth round tie in his first season at the club, with Small struggling before being taken off at half-time.
The Saints’ manager at the time, Ralph Hasenhuttl, said on Small: “Sometimes you see fantastic things from him and then other times you see horrible things.”
Now 19, Small has dropped down to League One to revive his fledgling career and is doing so under none other than Hasenhuttl’s successor at Southampton, Nathan Jones.
The Welsh manager was an incredibly divisive figure in his eight league games in charge of the Saints, winning just once in the Premier League and alienating the fanbase in the process with his often bizarre press conferences. Given how quickly Jones lost the favour of the Southampton faithful, it is no surprise that he was the shortest-serving non-caretaker manager in Southampton’s history.
Jones clearly has a point to prove in his first job since his three months at Southampton and in Small he has taken on a player in a similar situation. His career may not have worked out how he would have envisaged so far, but Small is still a teenager and is making up for lost time at The Valley.
Not only has Small started the last seven league games under Jones, but he has also played every minute in that run. Playing a left wing-back role that suits his athleticism and desire to get forward, Small has contributed with a goal and assist whilst being a key part of a Charlton side that have gone unbeaten in his run in the side, winning three and drawing four.
Speaking on his recent form, Small said: “I’m not getting too ahead of myself. It’s still really early days in my short time here – but it couldn’t have gone any better so far.
“I need to stay level-headed, try my best in every game and put 100 per cent into everything I do. That’s the bare minimum. You’re going to see the work ethic and hard work – that should be expected of everyone.
“I’ll be honest, they’ve only seen a little bit of what I’m capable of. I feel with more experience and working under the manager, that I can reach some higher levels in my game.”
Did Southampton let Small leave too soon?
Given the scramble for his signature as a 17-year-old and obvious potential, it may come as a surprise that Southampton did not try and keep Small at the club for longer.
The fact is, though, that Small’s contract was due to expire this summer regardless and he had not been in the first-team picture for over two years, as well as struggling to impress during loan spells at Port Vale and St Mirren.
That being said, at just 19 Southampton still had plenty of time to reap the rewards of convincing Small to choose them over a number of European giants in 2021 and the decision to let him leave may well be one the club regret in years to come.
Small clearly felt a move away was what was required to try and rejuvenate his career and it is difficult to argue against that when you consider the impact he has had in such a short time under Jones at Charlton.
Left-back is a position that Russell Martin has been short of options in this season, with Ryan Manning the only senior natural option that has been available to him for the bulk of the campaign. The likes of James Bree, Kyle Walker-Peters and Jack Stephens have all deputised at different points, but perhaps Small could have acted as an understudy to the 26-year-old Manning.
Young Spaniard Juan Larios has stepped up his recovery having not played since November 2022 and the 20-year-old will be targeting the left-back spot next season, but it is perhaps the emergence of 17-year-old left-back Jayden Meghoma which meant Southampton felt they could let Small cut his time at the club short.
Meghoma has come in for Manning in the FA Cup and shown maturity far beyond his years as he delivered promising performances against Walsall and Watford. Two years Small’s junior and clearly a player liked by Martin, it could have damaged Meghoma’s progression to have the now Charlton defender blocking his route to the first team.
Small still has plenty of time to live up to his early hype, but a move away may have been the best way for him to improve his chances of fulfilling his potential.