Southampton’s success in the Championship play-off final will see Taylor Harwood-Bellis become a permanent member of the squad.
The Saints beat Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley on Sunday after Adam Armstrong scored the only goal of the game to see them immediately return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The promotion means that Harwood-Bellis’ loan will now become permanent, as per the terms of the original deal struck with Manchester City in the summer.
The defender signed for Southampton on loan last year after helping Burnley to promotion in the season before.
And the south-coast side also managed to include a clause that meant that if the Saints returned to the Premier League, that loan would become a permanent deal, which was confirmed as the final whistle went in the Championship play-off final.
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.
And Harwood-Bellis can now look forward to next season where he could play Premier League football for the first time in his career.
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 agreed a deal in principle to become the new Bayern Munich boss.
It meant Harwood-Bellis had to face another year in the Championship, leading Southampton to promotion this time.
News Summary:
- Southampton promotion triggers £20million deal with Premier League champions
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