Jack Harrison reflects on Leeds United loan exits and fan reaction in farewell message | OneFootball

Jack Harrison has acknowledged that his decision to leave Leeds United on loan twice after relegation in 2023 was hard for supporters to accept, as his eight-year stay ended with a permanent move to New England Revolution on Saturday.

The player said in a post on Instagram that Leeds became his home, that going out on loan was not straightforward, and that while some fans struggled with it, his respect for the club never changed. He added that seeing Leeds back in the Premier League makes him proud.

Much of the last three seasons were spent away from Elland Road, with two spells at Everton followed by a six-month stint at Fiorentina in January. Both Everton loans followed his activation of a relegation-linked release clause after Leeds fell into the Championship at the end of 2022/23. He was among several players to use the clause.

Harrison had been a key figure in the 2019/20 Championship title win, before a ninth-place finish in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa the following season. His loan departures strained relations with parts of the fanbase, a point he addressed in his farewell.

“Thank you for everything. I’m excited for the next chapter, but until we meet again... Marching On Together.”

His message prompted responses from former team-mates.

Harrison, 29, is the last member of the 2019/20 title-winning squad to depart, joining fellow summer exits Illan Meslier and Pascal Struijk. Only Daniel James and Joe Gelhardt now remain from Bielsa’s time.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk