Port Vale have bolstered their midfield options with the signing of Rekeem Harper until the end of the season.
The former West Bromwich Albion man has been a free agent since leaving League One side Burton Albion in the summer. The 24-year-old has been through seven other clubs so far in his career, with experience in the Premier League whilst at The Baggies.
Leaders Reinforce Ranks
Port Vale are currently top of League Two by four points heading into the break for the FA Cup first round and are arguably the best side in the division. At the heart of their midfield has been former Stockport County man Ryan Croasdale and Ben Garrity. A big blow did come in the form of a long-term knock to summer signing George Byers, paving the way for the incoming Harper.
Vale boss Darren Moore told club media upon the signing of the midfielder:
“Rekeem is a player I’ve been lucky to know for some time and I am delighted we’re welcoming him to Vale Park. His ability to control the midfield and contribute not just in attack but defensively fits perfectly into our plans and what we want to achieve on the pitch.
“He is a very capable, versatile player who reads the game effectively, I believe he will be a valuable asset for us throughout the season on and off the pitch.”
The Valiants welcome League One’s Barnsley to Staffordshire this weekend in cup action, with the Oakwell club losing to Vale’s fourth-tier compatriots Doncaster Rovers in their most recent match in the EFL Cup.
Writer’s View
Rakeem Harper is a good signing for Port Vale. Arguably they didn’t need to strengthen in midfield but with George Byers out Darren Moore has taken the action to bring in a new option. He played 34 times for Burton last season and was a reliable player for them but ultimately lost his place at the club in the midst of all the changes in ownership and management that happened this summer. League Two’s standout side have got even better.
1st Class Honours in Multimedia Journalism at Salford University. Writing mainly about League Two.
