Southampton Football Club has successfully activated a mandatory buy option for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis following their promotion to the Premier League. The clause, part of the initial loan agreement with Manchester City, has resulted in a transfer fee of £20 million for the 22-year-old centre-back.
Details of the Transfer
Manchester City confirmed the receipt of the £20 million fee from Southampton as compensation for the permanent transfer of Harwood-Bellis. This move comes as a strategic step for Southampton as they prepare to strengthen their squad for their upcoming season in the top tier of English football.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, known for his robust defensive skills and ability to play out from the back, joined Manchester City’s youth ranks and has developed under their system before moving on loan to gain first-team experience. His performance at Southampton during the loan period evidently met the expectations, leading to the activation of the buy option in his contract.