Southampton’s success in the Championship play-off final will see Taylor Harwood-Bellis become a permanent member of the squad.
The Saints secured a 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Wembley, with Adam Armstrong scoring the decisive goal that granted their immediate return to the Premier League.
3
This promotion triggers the condition in Harwood-Bellis’ loan arrangement, agreed upon with Manchester City in the summer, whereby his transfer will now be permanent.
The defender signed for Southampton on loan last year after helping Burnley to promotion in the season before.
The south-coast club cleverly incorporated a clause ensuring that upon their return to the Premier League, the loan would convert into a permanent transfer, a fact confirmed as the Championship play-off final concluded.
It’s understood that the deal is worth £20million.
Harwood-Bellis has been an integral part of Southampton’s side this season, starring at the back alongside club stalwart Jack Stephens.
In total, he made 46 appearances for the Saints, scoring twice and helping them to a fourth-spot finish in the Championship.
In the play-off final, Harwood-Bellis starred next to Jan Bednarak and Stephens in a back three.
It nullified Leeds’ potent attack as Daniel Farke’s star men Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville all looked blunt.
3
3
And Harwood-Bellis is now delighted to be staying at the club, addressing the permanent deal after the final.
He told BBC Solent: “I can’t put it into words, it’s different because I know I’m a Southampton player now.
“I wanted to stay here and to know that we’ll be in the Premier League and there’s not even a discussion to happen now [with Man City] and to just turn up for pre-season, I can’t describe that feeling.”
Having come up through the academy at City, he only managed eight appearances for the club in cup competitions.
He never played in the Premier League for the champions before being sent on loan to Blackburn, Anderlecht, Stoke and Burnley.
Under Vincent Kompany last season, Harwood-Bellis helped the Clarets return to the Premier League as they clinched the Championship title.
But he was not signed permanently by the Belgian, who saw Burnley get relegated this season but has since become the new Bayern Munich boss.
It meant Harwood-Bellis had to face another year in the Championship, leading Southampton to promotion this time.
