City sign Ipswich midfielder

Rakeem Harper joins on a season long loan

Exeter City have signed midfielder Redeem Harper on loan from Ipswich.

The 22-year-old, who began his career in the academy at West Bromwich Albion, has signed for a year at City. He's the second player born in the 2000s to play in the Premier League when he featured in the Baggies 1-0 win over AFC Bournemouth.

Harper’s first senior loan spell came in the 2017-18 season when he headed to Blackburn Rovers, making nine appearances before returning to West Brom. In 2019-20 he made 13 appearances at the West Midlands side gained promotion to the Premier League, before playing 18 times for Birmingham City in the 2020/21 campaign. 

He joined Ipswich Town on a permanent deal last summer, making his debut on the opening day of last season and totalled 18 first team appearances before a January loan move to Crewe Alexandra, where he played a further 15 matches. 

Harper's also represented England at both under-17 and under-19 level and is City’s third addition in the transfer window following the July arrivals of Jamal Blackman and Kegs Chauke. 

Head of player recruitment, Marcus Flitcroft said: “Rekeem is a player we have monitoring for a while and have worked hard to bring to the football club. He fits the profile of player that we were looking for and know he will be a great addition to the squad.

“He has plenty of experience at this level and above despite his age and we hope that this loan spell with us will be hugely beneficial to Rekeem and ourselves.

“He’s a dynamic and composed midfielder that will add some real quality to us in all phases of play in the middle of the pitch.”

Rekeem goes straight into the squad for Saturday’s trip to Accrington Stanley.