Plymouth Argyle must take advantage of Charlton Athletic uncertainty & complete transfer | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle must take advantage of Alex Mitchell's uncertain future at Charlton Athletic to land the defender on a permanent deal this summer.

The 2025/26 season has been a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone connected with Plymouth Argyle. From the agonizing prospect of facing back-to-back relegations to the highs of a late play-off push, it's been quite the campaign to be a Janner.

The turnaround Tom Cleverley has achieved since the turn of the year has been nothing short of remarkable, establishing a clear system and identity which has seen his side fire themselves up the League One table.

Whilst players such as Bim Pepple, Lorent Tolaj, and Ronan Curtis will take most of the plaudits for their respective roles in this turnaround, the centre-back partnership of Alex Mitchell and Mathias Ross' impact simply can't be overlooked.

With the former not a permanent Argyle player but an integral part of Cleverley's jigsaw, it's crucial the Devon-based club do all they can to secure a full-time return to Home Park for Mitchell in the summer.

Alex Mitchell has captured Plymouth Argyle hearts after stunning loan spell

At the start of the season, Argyle's defence was really proving to be their achilles heel. On December 31st, the Green sat in 21st place in League One, with 38 goals conceded and a goal difference of -10.

Since then, Cleverley's side have accumulated the second most points in the entire division, only behind champions Lincoln City. The defence has been much more resilient too, having shipped just 22 goals in their last 21 league outings.

A huge part of this upturn in form at the back has been the emergence of Mitchell and Ross as the Pilgrims' starting centre-back duo, having tried and tested many different combinations in the first half of the season.

Ever since Cleverley's switch to a 4-4-2, the Charlton loanee and his Danish colleague have occupied the heart of the defence, mustering seven clean sheets since the turn of the year.

Whilst Ross' contributions have been hugely important, Mitchell has become somewhat of a fan favourite at Home Park, with his infectious personality and passion for the badge two key ingredients in his popularity.

The 24-year-old has only missed seven minutes of league football in 2026 thus far, cementing himself as one of the most consistent performers at the club, which has only led to cries for him to be signed on a permanent basis in the summer.

It's undeniable that Mitchell has been one of the best central defenders in League One this season. His outstanding 507 defensive contributions rank among some of the highest in the entire division, which is no mean feat given some of the competition he's up against.

The ex-Millwall man's stats paint a picture of how crucial he truly has been in Plymouth's resurgence in the new year, with him winning 62.0% of his aerial duels, providing 398 clearances, 43 tackles, 39 interceptions, and 11 total clean sheets.

Cleverley's perseverance really has paid dividends, as his defensive duo now looks set in stone. Mitchell's no-nonsense, old-school style of play, coupled with Ross acting as more of a progressive passer, has proven to be a recipe for success.

Whilst Argyle need a miracle to sneak into the play-off places this season, they will be keen to take the foundations they laid at the end of this campaign into 2026/27, but there is one slight issue preventing that currently.

That issue is that Mitchell doesn't actually belong to the Greens, and will return to Charlton in the summer as it stands. However, reports have suggested the club is interested in making his move permanent, in what would be a crucial coup for the club.

With the 24-year-old a long way down the pecking order at The Valley, Cleverley must use this to his advantage to try and strike a deal for the defender this summer.

The opportunity to continue his legacy at Home Park with an adoring fanbase behind him will be a tempting offer for Mitchell, and with game time difficult to come by with the Addicks, there's a strong chance PL2 becomes his full-time home this summer.