NYCFC’s Jack Harrison is transferring to Manchester City

It was only a matter of time considering how well he’s played in the MLS the past two seasons, but New York City FC winger Jack Harrison is finally making his move to England.

The rumors were swirling around all offseason, but it inevitably happened. New York City FC sold star winger Jack Harrison to their sister club, Manchester City FC, Tuesday afternoon for a club-record $6 million transfer fee. To further his development, Man City immediately loaned the 21-year old out to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough F.C. for the remainder of the season.

Drafted first overall by the Chicago Fire in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, NYCFC traded the fourth overall pick and allocation money to acquire the England international from Chicago, and it turned out to be one of the best moves in the club’s young history.

After sitting out the first 15 matches of the 2016 season, Harrison took the MLS by storm his rookie year. A left-footed winger with a great first touch and electric pace, Harrison was a key figure in NYCFC’s second place Eastern Conference finish, scoring four goals while assisting on six more in 19 appearances for the club.

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Harrison followed up his great rookie season with an even better sophomore campaign in 2017. The kid from Stoke-on-Trent scored a career-high 10 goals, logged three assists, and was rewarded for his excellent form with a call-up to England’s U21 National team.

Considering how well he’s played the past two years, it was only a matter of time before he caught Man City’s eye, but it’s uncertain as to what’s in store for Harrison after his loan spell is over. With world-class players like Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, and Leroy Sané occupying City’s midfield for the foreseeable future, it’ll be a challenge for Harrison to crack Pep Guardiola’s starting XI.

This is a tough pill to swallow for the NYCFC faithful. One of the brightest young stars in the MLS and an important piece of the Cityzens’ attack, Harrison was a fan favorite to many and could have been a club cornerstone for years to come.

Next: Will New York sports fans embrace the MLS?

Replacing Jack Harrison won’t be easy considering how vital he’s been to the club’s success. However, with second-year winger Jonathan Lewis slated to step into Harrison’s vacated role, NYCFC should still be in solid shape up top this upcoming season.