Harrison told the Echo: “There is a long story behind it. I think I have to sit down and explain it properly, I don’t want to say anything out of turn. “It was a complicated situation and in the end I ended up at Everton and I was happy to go there.
Jack Harrison discusses his ‘difficult’ move from Leeds United to Everton amid Aston Villa drama: ‘I don’t want to say anything inappropriate.’
Jack Harrison has confessed that his arrival at Everton from Leeds United was a “complicated” circumstance involving Aston Villa.
The Toffees loanee spoke to the Liverpool Echo (28 September) after making his debut in the Carabao Cup win over Villans, and while he was hesitant to elaborate on the “long story” behind his move from Elland Road to Goodison Park, he stressed that he was “happy” to be at the club and “surprised” by the struggles over the past two seasons.
Harrison, 26, signed a season-long loan deal with the Toffees on 14 August, a day after Unai Emery’s side were apparently attempting to hijack the deal despite Toffees medical tests already being completed, but the alarm was averted and an agreement was made.
“There’s a long story behind it,” Harrison told the Echo. I believe I should sit down and explain things properly; I don’t want to speak out of turn.
“It was a complicated situation, but I ended up at Everton, and I was delighted to be there.” I observed the club’s principles; it’s a beautiful club, and I’m astonished they’ve been in this predicament for the last few years.
“I believe that with the talent in the squad and the facilities with the staff and set-up they have as a club, they are very good.” I’m delighted to be here, and I hope that I can add to an already great team, and that we can build on the performances of the last two games to achieve success here at the club.”
Starting late
Harrison arrived with an injury that had held him out for a month and a half, so he has time to make up for it, but a strong debut performance was a good start.
Once fully healthy, he should be a valuable asset to Sean Dyche, especially in light of the losses of Alex Iwobi and Demarai Gray.
Arriving at Leeds thanks to a relegation release option in his contract contributed to a dynamic that was unpopular with the fanbase at his parent club, where he had only signed a new contract in April.
And if he doesn’t want to speak out of turn about the drama that accompanied his move, it suggests that Villa’s role was anything from straightforward.
Everton fans would have been excused for dreading a repeat performance with Harrison after seeing Arnaut Danjuma’s first loan attempt hijacked by Tottenham in January, followed by a successful second try in the summer.
But he made it to the club safely, and his comeback from injury has coincided with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s and a much-needed back-to-back wins, so his entry has come at the most positive time of the season so far.
If he can add to that and keep the Toffees out of trouble, a permanent move might be on the cards, however with Daniel Farke’s Whites now looking strong, a promotion for Leeds could put an end to that.
In other Everton news, a Sky Sports commentator believes the team has been given a “get out of jail free card” to avoid relegation this season.
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