Taylor Harwood-Bellis has joined Southampton on a permanent deal.

Last season, the 22-year-old played a pivotal role in helping Russell Martin’s men earn Premier League promotion via the play-offs.

He played 40 games in the Championship, scoring two goals, as the Saints eventually saw off Leeds in the final at Wembley to secure their spot in the top-flight for the 2024/25 season.

That promotion was his second in succession with Harwood-Bellis playing a crucial part in Burnley’s elevation to the top tier of English football, making 32 appearances as Vincent Kompany’s side were promoted as champions with 101 points in 2022/23.

Harwood-Bellis came through our academy system and went on to make eight senior appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, with his debut coming in September 2019 against Preston North End in a Carabao Cup third round victory en route to winning the trophy for a third successive season.

During his time with the Blues, he also had loans at Blackburn, Anderlecht – with Kompany – and Stoke City before his promotion-winning campaigns at Turf Moor and St Mary’s.

The central defender also won caps for England’s Under-21s and captained them to their European Championship triumph in August 2023 along with then City team-mates Tommy Doyle, Cole Palmer and James Trafford.

Everyone at Manchester City wishes Taylor the very best for the future at Southampton.