29-06-2023, 17:42
Burton Albion have signed Rekeem Harper on a two-year deal after the midfielder had his contract at Ipswich Town terminated by mutual consent.
The 23-year-old made only 19 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich after joining them for £500,000 from West Brom in the summer of 2021.
He spent must of last season on loan at Exeter, having had a stint with Crewe the season before.
Harper said Burton is the "right club" at the "right time" for him.
Talking to the club website, the former England Under-19 international added: "The manager has seen the strengths in my game and seen the things to work on. He has ambitions and as a player I share those visions."
Harper was just 17 when he made his Premier League debut at West Bromwich Albion and went on to play 41 times for the Baggies in all competitions.
His exploits with the Baggies saw him linked with Liverpool, Tottenham and Italian giants Juventus in 2019.
'Given him a home'
No such move materialised, but he had a stint at Birmingham City before dropping to League One with Ipswich.
Burton boss Dino Maamria - who is overseeing his first pre-season at the club, having replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in September 2022 - says he is delighted to have a player with experience and the capacity to improve.
"He's a top midfielder who had a lot of success at a young age but hasn't really been settled after being sent out on loan which is not easy sometimes," said Maamria.
"What he liked about us is that we have given him a home for the next two years and hopefully beyond that."
Meanwhile, former Preston, Oldham and Barnet assistant manager John Dreyer, 60, has been appointed as Maamria's number two.
The 23-year-old made only 19 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich after joining them for £500,000 from West Brom in the summer of 2021.
He spent must of last season on loan at Exeter, having had a stint with Crewe the season before.
Harper said Burton is the "right club" at the "right time" for him.
Talking to the club website, the former England Under-19 international added: "The manager has seen the strengths in my game and seen the things to work on. He has ambitions and as a player I share those visions."
Harper was just 17 when he made his Premier League debut at West Bromwich Albion and went on to play 41 times for the Baggies in all competitions.
His exploits with the Baggies saw him linked with Liverpool, Tottenham and Italian giants Juventus in 2019.
'Given him a home'
No such move materialised, but he had a stint at Birmingham City before dropping to League One with Ipswich.
Burton boss Dino Maamria - who is overseeing his first pre-season at the club, having replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in September 2022 - says he is delighted to have a player with experience and the capacity to improve.
"He's a top midfielder who had a lot of success at a young age but hasn't really been settled after being sent out on loan which is not easy sometimes," said Maamria.
"What he liked about us is that we have given him a home for the next two years and hopefully beyond that."
Meanwhile, former Preston, Oldham and Barnet assistant manager John Dreyer, 60, has been appointed as Maamria's number two.
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