Southampton’s Championship play-off final victory over Leeds has sparked a £20 million permanent transfer for Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
After a stunning first-half goal from Adam Armstrong secured a 1-0 triumph for Saints at Wembley on Sunday, they are now back in the top tier following their relegation the previous season.
Harwood-Bellis, who joined Southampton on loan last summer with an obligation to buy if the club secured promotion, has enjoyed a successful spell with the team, making 46 appearances and scoring two goals during the season.
In an interview with BBC Radio Solent, the 22-year-old expressed his excitement about becoming a permanent part of the Southampton squad, stating, “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.”
Southampton finished fourth in the Championship this season, securing automatic promotion to the Premier League alongside champions Leicester City and Ipswich Town after just one campaign in the second tier.
This marks a second consecutive promotion for Harwood-Bellis, who was part of Vincent Kompany’s Championship-winning Burnley team the previous season. Reflecting on his back-to-back promotions, the defender said, “It’s surreal, both in completely different ways, I couldn’t have asked for much better. Last year was so special, with a special football club that I loved to bits. This year is exactly the same, with a little more edge because I know I’m here to stay.”