Irish talent Michael Harris, linked with Celtic in January, has completed a surprising move to MLS club Colorado Rapids [Colorado Rapids website].
The Derry City youngster leaves Northern Ireland having only made 2 appearances for the club despite regularly being involved in matchday squads.
Harris, a promising young centre-forward, was said by the Irish Examiner back in January to be interesting the likes of Celtic and Stoke City respectively. Crystal Palace and QPR were also listed as potential suitors back in December too [Pundit Arena].
The striker emerged through the Derry City under-19s age group, with his crowning moment being when he scored the winning spot-kick in a Enda McGuill Cup final back in October [Derry Journal].
But despite reportedly being looked at by Celtic, Harris has made his decision to head to the USA and play with Colorado, who have instantly moved him down to their 2 team in the newly-formed MLS Next Pro League.
Celtic have looked across the Irish Sea already this term to bag Liam Scales and Johnny Kenny from Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers respectively. Harris, however, won’t be joining them.
Colorado Rapids sign up Celtic-linked Michael Harris; still a long way from first-team level
Had Harris signed for Celtic, he would’ve bene destined for the B team. He would’ve arrived in Scotland with less experience than either Scales or Kenny before him.
You do wonder whether this was one we decided against after signing Kenny of course. After all, we don’t really need to be investing in yet another young centre-forward. Not when we have Kenny and Joey Dawson playing regularly in the B team at the moment.
Even so, time will tell whether we missed out here. Colorado’s decision to play him in their own equivalent of a B side suggests they also see this as a long-term prospect. Not one who’ll come in and make an immediate impact. Not like Scales who’s already featured 13 times for the Hoops [Transfermarkt].
Celtic have plenty of talent bursting out of their own academy at the moment. Whilst adding to it is always welcome, we’re in a good place with plenty of promising youngsters getting game-time in the Lowland League.
All the best to Harris of course. It’s certainly a bold decision from the youngster. But good on him for taking what many of us would consider an unorthodox path in the game.
Hopefully it works out for him.
In other news, “He’s been exceptional”; The Celtic player who’s blown Joe Hart away behind the scenes
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