Harry Nicholas Arter (born 28 December 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a central or defensive midfielder. He is currently at Premier League club Nottingham Forest, but was not named in their playing squad for either of the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.
He began his career at Charlton Athletic, progressing through the club's youth academy before making his professional debut in 2007. He was loaned to non-League clubs Staines Town and Welling United before being released, subsequently joining Woking. After one season at Woking, he returned to The Football League with Bournemouth, becoming a first team regular following a loan to Carlisle United in 2011. He contributed to Bournemouth's promotion to the Championship in 2013, and to the Premier League two years later.
Born and raised in England, Arter represents the Republic of Ireland internationally. He played for the nation at under-17 and under-19 level, and made his senior debut in June 2015.
Born in Sidcup, Greater London, to parents Terry and Linda Arter, he was raised in the nearby area of Eltham. He has three brothers, Benji, Daniel and Paddy and a sister, Carly.
Arter played for the Republic of Ireland under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams, being eligible through his Sligo-born grandparents.
In February 2015, Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill said that Arter was on his radar and could be called up to the squad for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Poland. He earned his first call-up for that match on 12 March, following what O'Neill described as a "very good season", but did not play in it. He made his senior debut on 7 June 2015, as a 63rd-minute substitute for Glenn Whelan in a 0–0 draw in a friendly against England at the Aviva Stadium. He made his full international debut against the Netherlands in a 1–1 draw in Dublin on 27 May 2016, in which he was awarded man of the match. However, he was ultimately left out of Ireland's squad for UEFA Euro 2016. Arter made his senior competitive debut for the Republic of Ireland in a 1–0 away win over Austria on 12 November 2016 in a World Cup qualifying match, having made himself unavailable for the previous month's matches against Georgia and Moldova.
In September 2018, Arter made himself unavailable for selection for two matches after a clash with assistant manager Roy Keane. After sitting out several training sessions due to reporting various minor niggles to medical staff, Arter was confronted by Keane which led to Arter walking out of the team training session. Arter returned to the Republic of Ireland team for the UEFA Nations League match against Denmark on 13 October 2018.
Arter is the brother-in-law of former England captain and AFC Bournemouth manager Scott Parker, who is married to Arter's sister Carly. They both began their careers at Charlton. Arter has frequently cited Parker as a positive influence in his life. When Arter was released by Charlton and struggled to find a new club, Parker let him live in his house and paid him to do oddjobs in order to earn money. Arter played under Parker at Fulham during the 2019–20 season which he spent on loan at the club.
In December 2015, Harry Arter and his partner, Rachel, suffered a family tragedy when their daughter died at birth. Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe paid tribute to Arter following a 2–1 win over Manchester United on 12 December. Howe dedicated the win to Arter and said it had been "a hugely emotional week for him." In October 2016, Arter shared the news of his partner being pregnant again. On 17 February 2017, she gave birth to a baby girl, and called her Raine.
English Championship 2014-2015 Bournemouth |
2007-2009 |
2008-2009 (Loan) |
2009-2010 |
2009 (Loan) |
2010-2020 |
2011 (Loan) |
2018-2019 (Loan) |
2019-2020 (Loan) |
2021-2022 (Loan) |
2022 (Loan) |
2018-2019 |
2019-2021 |
2020-2023 |
2020-2024 |