Birmingham City have extended their impressive summer transfer business by securing a season-long loan deal for Fulham attacking midfielder Luke Harris after the player spent the second half of last season on loan at Exeter City in League One.
The Wales Under-21 international played a key role in his country’s recent UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying campaign and has been called into the senior squad on six occasions without making his senior international debut.
Luke Harris Looking to Build on Promising Career to Date
The Fulham academy graduate had starred for the under-18s before making his breakthrough at Premier League 2 level, as many national prospects have done in recent seasons. The Cottagers were comfortably crowned champions of the second division in 2021/22 with attacking midfielder Luke Harris a key component, scoring 13 goals, including a four-goal haul in a 5-3 win over Burnley.
Fulham and Harris impressed in the top flight of the professional development league, with the club securing a fifth-place finish. Harris was unplayable at times, scoring all three goals in a win over Chelsea and scoring in a 2-2 draw with champions Manchester City. He ended the season with 12 goals and four assists in just 17 appearances.
It was his first taste of senior football that made Harris a wanted man this summer, as he was a star player for Exeter after joining on loan in the winter transfer window. Playing primarily in the number ten role, his all-round game and defensive contribution were just as impressive as his attacking output.
He scored four goals and provided an assist in 21 appearances but ranked in the top three for successful tackles per game at Exeter City across the entire season. He was just outside the top five for interceptions per game at the club despite his advanced role. Harris was a major threat in forward areas and finished the season with four goal involvements in his final six matches.
Birmingham City Assembling a Squad of Stars
After announcing the arrival of talented prospect Harris on a season-long loan, the Blues have now completed deals for ten new arrivals this summer, spending seven figures on a number of these deals. Their level of spending is unprecedented in this division and manager Chris Davies has a squad of superstars to choose from for a team competing in League One.
There will be pressure on Birmingham City to deliver after their outlay on transfers this summer and although it appears likely they will be crowned champions, the manager will need to gel all of his new signings into a settled starting line-up having signed players with a mix of experience in English football.
There is competition for places across the pitch and Harris may have to bide his time before getting a chance in the first-team having arrived less than a week before the League One season commences. This Birmingham City side should be an interesting watch this season.