diff --git a/apps/api/src/api/workspaces.py b/apps/api/src/api/workspaces.py
index 0f8f4ad..2716dca 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/api/workspaces.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/api/workspaces.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ async def create_workspace_top_level(
 
     manager = WorkspaceManager()
     try:
-        workspace = await manager.create(repo, user_id, name, branch)
+        workspace = await manager.create(repo, user_id, name, branch, session=session)
         session.add(workspace)
         await session.commit()
     except Exception as exc:
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ async def create_workspace(
 
     manager = WorkspaceManager()
     try:
-        workspace = await manager.create(repo, user_id, name, branch)
+        workspace = await manager.create(repo, user_id, name, branch, session=session)
         session.add(workspace)
         await session.commit()
     except Exception as exc:
diff --git a/apps/api/src/services/git_service.py b/apps/api/src/services/git_service.py
index 082370a..d68627b 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/services/git_service.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/services/git_service.py
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import logging
+import os
 import subprocess
+import tempfile
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -11,13 +13,39 @@ class GitService:
     """Low-level git operations for creating and syncing workspaces."""
 
     @staticmethod
-    async def clone(remote_url: str, branch: str, path: str) -> None:
+    def _prepare_ssh_env(
+        ssh_key: str | None,
+    ) -> tuple[dict[str, str] | None, str | None]:
+        """Prepare environment for git commands with SSH authentication.
+
+        Returns a tuple of (env_dict, temp_key_path). Caller must clean up key_path.
+        """
+        if not ssh_key:
+            return None, None
+
+        fd, key_path = tempfile.mkstemp(prefix="ssh_key_")
+        try:
+            os.write(fd, ssh_key.encode())
+        finally:
+            os.close(fd)
+        os.chmod(key_path, 0o600)
+
+        env = {
+            "GIT_SSH_COMMAND": f"ssh -i {key_path} -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null"
+        }
+        return env, key_path
+
+    @staticmethod
+    async def clone(
+        remote_url: str, branch: str, path: str, ssh_key: str | None = None
+    ) -> None:
         """Clone a repository to the given path.
 
         Args:
             remote_url: The git remote URL.
             branch: The branch to clone.
             path: The destination path for the clone.
+            ssh_key: Optional decrypted SSH private key for authentication.
 
         Raises:
             RuntimeError: If the clone fails.
@@ -31,17 +59,24 @@ class GitService:
             remote_url,
             path,
         ]
-        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
-            *cmd,
-            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
-            stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
-        )
-        stdout, stderr = await proc.communicate()
-        if proc.returncode != 0:
-            error_msg = stderr.decode().strip() if stderr else "unknown error"
-            logger.error("Git clone failed: %s", error_msg)
-            raise RuntimeError(f"Git clone failed: {error_msg}")
-        logger.debug("Cloned %s (branch: %s) to %s", remote_url, branch, path)
+
+        env, key_path = GitService._prepare_ssh_env(ssh_key)
+        try:
+            proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+                *cmd,
+                stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+                env={**os.environ, **env} if env else None,
+            )
+            stdout, stderr = await proc.communicate()
+            if proc.returncode != 0:
+                error_msg = stderr.decode().strip() if stderr else "unknown error"
+                logger.error("Git clone failed: %s", error_msg)
+                raise RuntimeError(f"Git clone failed: {error_msg}")
+            logger.debug("Cloned %s (branch: %s) to %s", remote_url, branch, path)
+        finally:
+            if key_path and os.path.exists(key_path):
+                os.unlink(key_path)
 
     @staticmethod
     async def fetch(path: str) -> None:
diff --git a/apps/api/src/services/workspace_manager.py b/apps/api/src/services/workspace_manager.py
index cc7d886..f24d0f4 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/services/workspace_manager.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/services/workspace_manager.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import select
 
 from src.models.workspace import Workspace
 from src.services.git_service import GitService
+from src.services.ssh_keys import _get_fernet
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ class WorkspaceManager:
         user_id: uuid.UUID,
         name: str,
         branch: str = "main",
+        session: AsyncSession | None = None,
     ) -> Workspace:
         """Clone repo to workspace path and create DB record.
 
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ class WorkspaceManager:
             user_id: The owner user ID.
             name: The workspace name (unique per repo).
             branch: The branch to clone (default: "main").
+            session: Database session for loading SSH keys.
 
         Returns:
             The created Workspace record.
@@ -79,7 +82,22 @@ class WorkspaceManager:
         if not repo.remote_url:
             raise ValueError("Repository has no remote URL")
 
-        await GitService.clone(repo.remote_url, branch, path)
+        # Load SSH key if repo has one
+        ssh_key = None
+        if getattr(repo, "ssh_key_id", None) and session is not None:
+            from src.models.ssh_key import SSHKey
+
+            result = await session.execute(
+                select(SSHKey).where(SSHKey.id == repo.ssh_key_id)
+            )
+            ssh_key_obj = result.scalar_one_or_none()
+            if ssh_key_obj:
+                fernet = _get_fernet()
+                ssh_key = fernet.decrypt(
+                    ssh_key_obj.private_key_encrypted.encode()
+                ).decode()
+
+        await GitService.clone(repo.remote_url, branch, path, ssh_key=ssh_key)
 
         workspace = Workspace(
             name=name,