FC Porto have launched a £20 million bid for Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis as interest intensifies in one of the Championship’s standout centre-backs.
The Saints face a crucial decision as they weigh up whether to cash in on the former Manchester City man just a year after his arrival.
Porto Push for Harwood-Bellis With Summer Rebuild Underway
Following their disastrous 2024/25 campaign, which saw Southampton relegated with just 12 points—the joint-lowest tally in Premier League history—new boss Will Still is tasked with overseeing a major overhaul at St Mary’s. That task could begin with significant departures, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis may be among the first to move.
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Portuguese giants FC Porto have submitted a formal offer of around £20 million for the 23-year-old. The bid matches the fee Southampton paid Manchester City for Harwood-Bellis last summer, but the club are expected to hold out for at least a small profit should they agree to sell.
Despite the club’s torrid season, Harwood-Bellis emerged with credit. A composed and consistent presence in a struggling backline, he remained one of Southampton’s few shining lights. His performances last year came after a string of impressive Championship loans with Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers, and Burnley—experiences that underline just how comfortable he is at this level and beyond.
The move would mark Porto’s second recent foray into the EFL market, with the club having failed in a January attempt to sign Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney. With European competition on offer and a proven track record of developing young talent, the Portuguese club represent an appealing next step for Harwood-Bellis, who many believe is far too good for the second tier.
If the Saints do sell, it will be a blow to Will Still’s hopes of an immediate promotion push. The club have already lost Kyle Walker-Peters, and further defensive exits could require a full-scale rebuild at the back.
Writer’s View
This is the first real test of Southampton’s transfer strategy under Will Still. Taylor Harwood-Bellis is exactly the type of player they should be building around, not selling—but a £20 million offer, particularly with financial pressures following relegation, might be hard to turn down.
If Saints allow him to leave, finding a replacement of similar calibre will be difficult, especially with promotion the clear objective. Porto, meanwhile, would be getting a young, ball-playing centre-back with leadership potential and European pedigree. Whether this is the right time to cash in may define Southampton’s season.
