Alex Hartridge Signs Two-Year Deal as Plymouth Argyle's First Summer Signing

alex hartridge has joined Plymouth Argyle on a two-year deal, becoming their first summer signing before the 2025-26 season. The former Exeter City central defender arrives with League One experience and a route back into the league after his Burton Albion contract runs out on 1 July.

The move also lands for Plymouth after Brendan Galloway was released last month, giving Tom Cleverley an early addition who can play centrally or at left-back. Hartridge is due to become a free agent on 1 July, so Argyle have moved early to secure him before that point.

Hartridge returns to Home Park

Hartridge came through Exeter City’s academy and made 154 games in his first spell there, then returned on loan during the second half of the 2024-25 season and added 18 appearances in League One. He left Exeter City in the summer of 2024, spent time with Wycombe Wanderers before, and now links up with Plymouth as a 27-year-old with a familiar regional background.

Cleverley said, "He had a good season for Burton Albion, and can strengthen us in more than one position". He added, "He has some attributes in areas that we have identified that we can improve, and I'm delighted at how early we have managed to get him on board."

Adams on left-sided depth

Derek Adams said, "Good left-sided players are sometimes hard to come by, and at 27 he has a great deal of experience, while also being in the prime of his career." He also said, "He knows the area, will complement the players we already have, and I'm pleased we have made him our first signing this close season."

For Plymouth, the practical gain is straightforward: an early arrival at Home Park, a player who can cover two defensive roles, and a signing made before the window fully opens around the club’s summer business. For Hartridge, the deal gives him a fixed two-year path after a season that ended with a loan return to Exeter and a move away from Burton once the calendar turns to 1 July.