Everything you need to know about Southampton signing Harwood-Bellis

The defender joins with an obligation to buy for £20million should Southampton get promoted to the Premier League.

Harwood-Bellis arrives having helped Burnley win the Championship last season. He also captained England to under-21 European Championship glory during the summer.

Here is everything you need to know about Saints’ latest loan signing...

Who is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 21, is a central defender who is comfortable playing out from the back.

Manchester City’s Harwood-Bellis was born in Stockport and joined the club’s youth set-up at the age of six.

He ranked third in the Championship last season for passes per 90 (73.51), with an 87.83 per cent success rate.

Saints director of football Jason Wilcox, who previously worked with Harwood-Bellis at Man City, is pleased to get the deal over the line.

He said: “Taylor arrives with experience beyond his years, including a vast amount of games at Championship level which includes lifting the title last season.

“He’s someone who can help us immediately but also has huge potential to continue developing.

“Taylor’s attributes make him a perfect fit for our system and how we want to play, and I have no doubt he’ll prove to be a valuable addition.”

His career so far

Prior to joining City, Harwood-Bellis came through the Stockport Metro Junior League - the same league that produced Phil Foden.

Having risen through the academy ranks, the defender formed a partnership with current Barcelona centre-back Eric Garcia as City reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2019.

Harwood-Bellis made his senior City debut in an EFL Cup tie against Preston before making his Champions League debut against Dinamo Zagreb in December 2019.

After signing a four-year contract extension at the Etihad, a 19 year old Harwood-Bellis joined Blackburn on loan for the second half of the 2020-21 Championship season.

Two more loan deals followed as he joined Vincent Kompany's Anderlecht for the first half of the 2021-22 season before returning to the Championship with Stoke.

Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis made 35 appearances for Burnley last season.

Burnley lost just four of those games.

22 of those games were wins #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/G2zhucCN4P

— Saints Analysis (@saints_analysis) September 1, 2023

Yet another loan move followed last season as Harwood-Bellis linked back up with Kompany at Burnley.

He played 2,888 minutes across 35 appearances as the Clarets won promotion to the Premier League.

International exploits

To date, Harwood-Bellis has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 level.

His brightest moment in an England shirt came last summer when he lifted the under-21 European Championship as captain.

Lee Carsley’s side won the tournament in Romania and Georgia without conceding a single goal.

As a result, Harwood-Bellis was named in the competition's team of the tournament alongside England teammates James Trafford, Levi Colwill, James Garner, Curtin Jones and Anthony Gordon.

What has Harwood-Bellis said?

Manchester City legend Kompany has played a key role in Harwood-Bellis' development having worked with him at both Anderlecht and Burnley.

The 21 year old heaped praise on the Premier League-winning defender when speaking ahead of the Under-21 European Championship this summer. 

"I feel like it’s the most I have improved as a player on and off the pitch. The detail the manager has put in is incredible.

"It's helped me massively playing for England. It's helped me adapt to playing with players and helping others to what they’re good at."

In an interview earlier in the year he added: “I think it was an advantage in terms of knowing how he wants to play, but only that because if I’m not up to it then I’m not going to play - it’s as simple as that. 

"He wants the best team and the people that are on form doing exactly what he wants are going to play and I know that which is why I’ve got to come in here every day and be the best I can be.

“There are no days off with him and if he sees you slacking off he’ll notice it within 10 minutes, he’s like that, but it’s good for everybody to be like that and you’ve got to be at your best every day.”

Our verdict

Following the departure of Lyanco and Jack Stephens' injury, centre-back was a key area for Saints to address this summer.

Bringing in Harwood-Bellis is a more than adequate replacement for those losses.

He already has experience of being promoted to the Premier League from his time at Burnley last season.

He has also showcased his ability to play out from the back, which should see him slot seamlessly into Martin's system.

The inclusion of an obligation to buy should Southampton be promoted to the Premier League makes this deal even better as it future-proofs the deal.