Blues midfielder Rekeem Harper has joined fellow League One side Exeter City on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old’s only appearance for Town this season was the Carabao Cup defeat to Colchester, although he was on the bench for the opening day draw with Bolton. The deal includes a January recall should the Blues opt to take it.

“I’m really delighted to be here and it’s been a long time coming. I feel like Exeter’s goals align with my goals as a player and I’m really excited,” Harper told the Grecians official website having trained with his new teammates today.

“I spoke to George Friend and Kane Wilson, and they had great things to say about the club, and I hope I can use my experience at this level to help out the team.

“I think my individual mentality is that I take every game as another step in the direction I want to go. It helps having been in this league already.

“I’m an all-rounded midfielder who likes to play forward and take risk, and most importantly I’m a hard worker.”

Exeter head of player recruitment Marcus Flitcroft added: “Rekeem is a player we have monitoring for a while and have worked hard to bring to the football club. He fits the profile of player that we were looking for and know he will be a great addition to the squad.

“He has plenty of experience at this level and above despite his age and we hope that this loan spell with us will be hugely beneficial to Rekeem and ourselves.

“He’s a dynamic and composed midfielder that will add some real quality to us in all phases of play in the middle of the pitch.”

Harper, who joined Town from West Brom last summer signing a deal which runs to the summer of 2024 with the club having an option for a further year, started last season in the team but drifted out of favour and moved to Crewe on loan for the second half of last season.

In total, Harper has made 11 starts and eight sub appearances for the Blues without scoring.

Speaking about Harper and fellow former Baggie Kyle Edwards earlier this month, manager Kieran McKenna said: “It's been an important pre-season for them, they've both made positive steps and Rekeem has made an impression across the pre-season games and in training, is fitter and has a better understanding of the game and how we play and showing an increased maturity in his game from when I first saw him in January.

“So, he's made steps forward. Obviously, there is competition in that area and he's going to have to continue to compete as he is and wait for his chances and impress when the chances do come along, so he's made good steps forward.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Whos_blue added 18:08 - Aug 24 I really had high hopes for Rakeem. That's not to say he'll never make it with Town and hopefully this loan will benefit him, but he's dropping away at the monent. Good luck lad.
17

Pencilpete added 18:09 - Aug 24 When I was 8 I taught not to play blind passes across my own goal - hopefully Harper will learn this at Exeter ….. In all seriousness tho, despite him being dreadful against Colchester there IS a player in there he is just low on confidence so hopefully he will go and get it back with them
11

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:14 - Aug 24 Thus far he has to go down as one of our most disappointing signings ever, young, gifted, exciting, confident had been part of a promotion winning WBA side, felt like a stament of intent when we signed him. So far it'd been a real let down, let's hope he does a JD
5

rfretwell added 18:15 - Aug 24 He has to learn to take care of the ball. If he can do that he can come good. Remembering Teddy Bishop- -- he impressed right from his debut as he never gave the ball away cheaply.
3

RegencyBlue added 18:17 - Aug 24 I too had high hopes for Rakeem but, whilst there is I think a player in there, he hasn't taken the opportunity here. This looks very much like a last chance saloon move for him.
5

chenners17 added 18:25 - Aug 24 Now we definitely need a CM. 7 days to go…. Evans, morsy and ball (unfit)
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Suffolkboy added 18:26 - Aug 24 Great for the player to have the opportunity to develop and actually play ,rather than knowing this season's opportunities at ITFC will be almost permanently scarce . If he settles well and applies himself it's a real chance to discover the way forward . Good luck ! COYB
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blues1 added 18:27 - Aug 24 I rarely call out individual players but in this case I have to say he really is rubbish. And I hate to say that bcse I was excited when we signed him, having seen him playing for wba. He says he's a hard working midfielder? Seen little evidence of that so far. Putting aside the pass across the area v col utd, bcse that happens now and then, to much better players than him too. But he just strolled around the rest of the game, his passing was lax. And did little at crewe last season. Think there's a player in there somewhere but he really needs to get his head down and show what he's got. Good luck to him tho, and hope he finds some form, and has a great career, whether that turns out to be back here, or elsewhere.

8

TractorfactorSteve added 18:28 - Aug 24 “I'm really delighted to be here and it's been a long time coming. I feel like (insert team name) goals align with my goals as a player and I'm really excited,” Copied and pasted....
5

Stato added 18:38 - Aug 24 Good news for Humphreys. Surely must mean Ball now fit ?
8

Knightsy added 18:40 - Aug 24 Good Luck to Harper, hopefully his Confidence will come with Games for Exeter.
2

Bazza8564 added 18:44 - Aug 24 much as expected, Hladky, Penney and simpson will soon be gone and then we have the headroom to sign Hirst or whoever MA and KM want
2

muhrensleftfoot added 18:50 - Aug 24 Good luck Rekeem. Hope it works out for you. From what I've seen at ITFC, I don't think you're quite up to standard.
1

OliveR16 added 19:04 - Aug 24 I wish him all the best - but in truth it says it all that no-one seems to mind him being loaned to one of our League rivals.
2

Number22 added 19:15 - Aug 24 Was really poor against Colchester, be good to get away and play some first team football elsewhere
1

ArnieM added 19:20 - Aug 24 Good luck Rekeem. Sadly I don't think you'll be making it with Town. But good luck in your career / hopefully with Exeter 👍
2

Lukeybluey added 19:24 - Aug 24 I hope he does well, needs to get his head down and work hard and hopefully work his way into our team next season.... That being said...I wonder that now Rakeem has now gone out on loan, whether we will sign a new midfielder...Isn't Massimo Luongo still without a club?
0

magnus68 added 19:28 - Aug 24 All respect to the lad. But isn't his comment like a copy paste political correct? Of course he wanted to break trough into our side, and must feel frustrated. I sometimes wonder as I'm a very direct person, what if players actually said what they feel and think? Sorry for being a sour old bloke, but hey, the world need some more honesty, In football, work wise, and in life in general. Love you Ipswich, and watching this space more often than appropriate to see when we sign this new great striker addition.

2

NthQldITFC added 19:39 - Aug 24 Make yourself an indispensable fixture for Exeter, Rekeem, then come back here next year for a tilt at winning the Championship. You've definitely got it in you.
2

Vancouver_Blue added 19:46 - Aug 24 Hope he does a JD and bounce back
5

Jugsy added 19:48 - Aug 24 Blueandtruesince82- most disappointing signing ever?!? Bit heavy… what makes you say that? First game I saw him was Cheltenham away and he looked great in the first half with Evans. Second half we decided to miss the midfield out and hoof from the back, took him and Evans out of the game - not his fault but he got called out in press. I think for a young player he's been messed about a bit (Cook making signings promises and not following through). I would have rather him play over Carroll who offered naff all. His confidence looks shot to bits. All players make mistakes, hanging them out to dry especially when they're at a young age feels harsh. Like any signing, I'd love them to smash it for us but he's not going to get a run of games to build him back up. He's probably done now. Incidentally, Orient are loving El Miz, saying he's way too good for league one but he's another I can't see breaking into this first team.

7

ITFC_Singapore added 19:59 - Aug 24 I think that the fact that he has be loaned out two seasons in a row speaks volumes. Whilst everyone wants to be positive and of course we hope it goes well for him at Exeter, the truth is he is a very poor player. In the games i saw him play last season his work rate was terrible, he was sloppy, and around half of his passes went to the opposition. He just didn't add anything positive at any point. I think the coaching staff (Who obviously also see him every day in training) have called this one right. And not that it is a straight fight.....but i've seen much more from El Miz than Harper.

1

BlueandTruesince82 added 20:01 - Aug 24 One of Jugsy, one of. Aside for the reasons already given, he also really stood out as a representation of the new found optimism that came with the take over, he was touted as one that could come with us all the way to the PL and not be out of place there, signing him was a real coup and a stamen of intent only for him not get into what was last year, a mind to play off ene L1 side. Vs what we were expecting he has underwhelmed and then some. Up there with Lee Martin and Paul Taylor for let downs

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Billysherlockblue added 20:13 - Aug 24 I watched him needs to up work rate 100 per cent and do the basics right. Then he might get another chance at Ipswich. His work rate is woeful. Look how burns for example works. This is how all should be imo. 💙
2

Billysherlockblue added 20:14 - Aug 24 Imo work rate makes an average player good and a super player a great
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