Town have announced that midfielder Rekeem Harper’s contract has been terminated by mutual consent.

Harper, 23, joined the Blues in the summer of 2021 from West Brom for a fee understood to be in the region of £500,000, signing a three-year deal.

The former England U17 and U19 international started the 2021/22 season in Paul Cook’s side but gradually drifted out of the picture and wasn’t involved after Kieran McKenna took over as boss and was sent on loan to Crewe Alexandra for the second half of the campaign.

Having started the Carabao Cup defeat to Colchester United, Harper was sent on loan to Exeter for the rest of last season where he made 16 starts and seven sub appearances.

In total, the Birmingham-born schemer made 11 starts - six in the league - and eight sub appearances for the Blues without scoring.

Photo: Matchday Images

Tractor_Boy_Tommy added 12:21 - Jun 28 Shame, arrived with promise. Not sure his heart was completely in it here
5

dangerous30 added 12:28 - Jun 28 Sometimes its just does not work out but good luck in the future
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Henz10 added 12:31 - Jun 28 I think there's a player in there however looks like the right move for everyone involved Wish him the best of luck for the rest of his career
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barrystedmunds added 12:36 - Jun 28 Making way for Simms. Football Insider are reporting that Everton have turned down our £4 million bid!!
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bringmeaKuqi added 12:36 - Jun 28 You could just see his ability was a little behind the other team members. His touch was a bit poorer, his passes more often misplaced and he was push off the ball more easily. There's definitely a player there, and good qualities too. But not up to our standard.
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Europablue added 12:46 - Jun 28 Paul Cook brought in a very mixed bag of players, but that is inevitable when you bring in 19 players. There is nothing to suggest that Harper couldn't play in a mid-table League One side. It's surprising that the contract was terminated, because that means there wasn't any interest even for a nominal fee. Hopefully, he fulfills his potential somewhere else. Good luck!

2

ArnieM added 12:47 - Jun 28 Wonder where he'll go. Didn't he have an off field incident in an Exeter night club last season? Good luck to him hope he gets sorted out somewhere …. Exeter?
2

HighgateBlue added 12:48 - Jun 28 Taylor in, Harper out. Squad improved materially. Onwards and upwards. Shame it didn't work out, but good luck to the lad.
8

Saxonblue74 added 12:54 - Jun 28 Not sure if it was ability, work ethic or both. I think he was on most people's list to move on. Good luck to him, still early in his career
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irishtim added 12:58 - Jun 28 Think this was inevitable. We need to move on a few more promptly.
3

BlueySwede added 13:03 - Jun 28 Probably best for all parties. It does make me a little sad that we spent 500k with a very poor return, but not every player works out at every club. Sometimes I think there are fine margins between failure and success. I remember a game where he was decent, hit the post I think..maybe if it had went in it would have built his confidence? Not going to get a chance at Town now, so best to give him a shot at another club. Good luck!

6

Karlosfandangal added 13:04 - Jun 28 I was excited about this signing and at first showed some promise, shame but he is well down the pecking order. Frees up a space and reduces the wage bill.
1

Europablue added 13:16 - Jun 28 BlueySwede, KM and MA make a much better team than PC and MA. There are bound to be many fewer misses with the current team. I don't think Harper was that bad. The biggest problem for fringe players was that we got promoted, so if you can't get into the League One side, you won't be getting into the Championship side especially when some of the players above him in the pecking order won't even get a place.

4

TractorfactorSteve added 13:19 - Jun 28 A box to box player but a pity he couldn't remember which one he was in.
1

SpiritOfJohn added 13:23 - Jun 28 It wasn't very long ago that people were salivating at the prospect of Harper replacing Dozzell. Good job KM's signings are based on more than a highlights reel on YouTube. Town Close in On West Brom Midfielder Harper 9th Jun 2021 21:31 TWTD understands the Blues are closing in on the permanent signing of West Brom central midfielder Rekeem Harper. 53
5

Pencilpete added 13:29 - Jun 28 He was done here the moment he played a ridiculous blind pass across his own penalty area to sum up a woefully poor performance in the cup game with Colchester - the kind of thing you're told not to do in the under 8's ! If McKenna had given him a clean slate and a chance to prove himself he ruined it that night. Never looked the player he was ment to be but hopefully he salvages his career somewhere else

6

BeattiesBackPocket added 13:35 - Jun 28 Always sad to see players let go but he came with a lot of promise and potential but never really got anywhere near it and after his blind pass across the penalty area against col Utd which even kids are taught not to do the writing was always on the wall. A little hope that he'd set the league alight when playing for Crewe and Exeter but again nothing.
1

runningout added 13:52 - Jun 28 Hope he finds a club and surprises us. Good luck to RH
1

inghamspur added 14:11 - Jun 28 He was so slow
0

Marcus added 15:04 - Jun 28 Could have done a job for us at League One level, somewhat expected as needs to develop before playing any higher. Good luck.
2

Facefacts added 15:07 - Jun 28 Some of the players brought in by Paul Cook were probably discussed over a beer at the local. Quick look at social media. A schemer was a name for a type of player who was around at the time of The Topical Times Football Book, an annual stocking filler at Christmas. So, someone like Brian Talbot. Thinking man, tough tackler, gets stuck in. Yellow or red card every game nowadays.

1

Nutkins_Return added 15:23 - Jun 28 Remember watching him warming up with teammates very close up at Cheltenham away early in his career. His touch and ability looked exceptional and he clearly had bags of natural talent and a good size. Just seems either his engine or heart in games wasn't matching his ability. Could be unfair. Just something missing but I never saw it as talent missing.
3

Linkboy13 added 15:38 - Jun 28 Not only did he not do it at Ipswich he also failed to impress when on loan so i don't know how people can come out with the ridiculous statement that there's a player in there somewhere rubbish and he will come back to bite us. One of Rakeems biggest problems is that he's a naturally laid back lazy person and when that's part of your personality it's very difficult to change the habit you were born with. Hope he finds a club where he is motivated and be successful.

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Jugsy added 15:38 - Jun 28 Same Nutkins_Return. Thought he looked really good in the first half and then for some reason we took our midfield out of the game and went long ball only in the second half. I'd have said he looked better than Lee Evans in that match. Probably a lot of factors played into his demise, there's definitely a player buried in there.
1

Cadiar added 15:39 - Jun 28 Came with quite a reputation but just wasn't up to it. One of the higher wage earners at PR. Hope he finds a club that suits him & he doesn't disappear into obscurity. Although I thought PC was a clown he did bring in some good players but Harper wasn't one at least for us. My Exeter mate wasn't too impressed.
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