Blues midfielder Rekeem Harper has joined fellow League One side Exeter City on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old’s only appearance for Town this season was the Carabao Cup defeat to Colchester, although he was on the bench for the opening day draw with Bolton. The deal includes a January recall should the Blues opt to take it.

“I’m really delighted to be here and it’s been a long time coming. I feel like Exeter’s goals align with my goals as a player and I’m really excited,” Harper told the Grecians official website having trained with his new teammates today.

“I spoke to George Friend and Kane Wilson, and they had great things to say about the club, and I hope I can use my experience at this level to help out the team.

“I think my individual mentality is that I take every game as another step in the direction I want to go. It helps having been in this league already.

“I’m an all-rounded midfielder who likes to play forward and take risk, and most importantly I’m a hard worker.”

Exeter head of player recruitment Marcus Flitcroft added: “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.”

Harper, who joined Town from West Brom last summer signing a deal which runs to the summer of 2024 with the club having an option for a further year, started last season in the team but drifted out of favour and moved to Crewe on loan for the second half of last season.

In total, Harper has made 11 starts and eight sub appearances for the Blues without scoring.

Speaking about Harper and fellow former Baggie Kyle Edwards earlier this month, manager Kieran McKenna said: “It's been an important pre-season for them, they've both made positive steps and Rekeem has made an impression across the pre-season games and in training, is fitter and has a better understanding of the game and how we play and showing an increased maturity in his game from when I first saw him in January.

“So, he's made steps forward. Obviously, there is competition in that area and he's going to have to continue to compete as he is and wait for his chances and impress when the chances do come along, so he's made good steps forward.”

Photo: Matchday Images

ringwoodblue added 20:16 - Aug 24 He didn't come back from Crewe a better player so hope Exeter can get something out of him. Best of luck Rekeem.
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Dog added 20:17 - Aug 24 BlueandTrue - Sam Parkin for me.
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inghamspur added 20:22 - Aug 24 He won't get a game at Exeter either
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itsonlyme added 20:35 - Aug 24 Crewe last year, Exeter this year. Says it all!
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runningout added 22:10 - Aug 24 Good luck to RH… Do the real business and ignore all doubters
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markchips added 22:14 - Aug 24 That's the last we will see of him then, just Penney to go and Edwards best mind his p's and q's with the schoolteacher this week .
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hyperbrit added 00:23 - Aug 25 guys McK simply doesn't have time before the owners get impatient.Once Town are in the Championship there will be time enough to develop the youth unless the owners are stupid enough to go for the poison chalice like the Budgies.
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KiwiTractor added 06:20 - Aug 25 Personally I think El Mizouni is a better player than Harper, so not surprised to see him loaned. However we do seem a bit thin in central midfield at the moment? Maybe we will see an addition here....
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Linkboy13 added 07:49 - Aug 25 This does not send out a message of a future for Rekeem at Ipswich. However at 22 he's still got time on his side but has to show a lot more than he so far in his short career so far at Ipswich. If he does impress at Exeter and they want to make the deal permanent i think Ipswich will be keen to offload him to make room for a replacement.
3

benfromkent added 08:42 - Aug 25 ‘Exeters goals match my goals…', so the Ipswich goals of building an outstanding team and club, winning promotion this season, and ultimately pushing onwards from there to get Premier League status, don't align with you goals Rakeem??? If that's your genuine attitude and thought process I reckon Exeter is a realistic proposition for you long term.
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ChrisFelix added 09:35 - Aug 25 When I saw him against Morecombe I compared him with our greatest ever no 4 ( a certain Dutchman). How wrong can you be & his sloppy pass against Col U now sums up the the chap
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Jugsy added 10:07 - Aug 25 Far enough BlueandTruesince82, I think Martin and Taylor were way worse but I appreciate your point. Pigott has been much more disappointing IMO - never seen him play well for us. As Linkboy says, he's still 22, so he's got a chance of making himself. Doesn't matter if he's at Crewe or Exeter, he'll be playing week in week out hopefully that's the platform he needs. Having a recall in January indicates the door is open (certainly more than Pigott), so it's in his hands really. At the moment, he's done, but there's always a way back - Jackson is proof of that. Those criticizing Exeter - we're in the same league!

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SussexTractor added 10:30 - Aug 25 Loaning him out will achieve one of two things: (1) He comes back a better player for Ipswich in the future (of which we have many examples) OR (2) He is sold (money for the club) or is released (of which we have many examples) - sometimes they go on to achieve greater things in such circumstances, but most do not.
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ringwoodblue added 13:48 - Aug 25 Your assessment is spot on Benfromkent. I assume that Exeter's realistic goals are just to establish themselves in Lg1 and avoid relegation this season.
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blueboy1981 added 14:19 - Aug 25 Bazza8564 …. Dream On, with the second part of your post. Just cannot see that happening !! First part - Yes, that could, maybe will happen.
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Kirbmeister added 15:42 - Aug 25 Harper will never play for Ipswich again. No where near good enough.
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