FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – As the New England Revolution navigate the summer transfer window, strengthening the team on the pitch remains a priority – but finding the right player means looking beyond stats or names. Just as important is how a player fits into the culture and identity of a squad currently sitting third in the East. With the signing of English winger Jack Harrison, the Revolution have added more than attacking reinforcement; they have brought in a player who reflects the vision of what this club is building.
“Equally as important as Jack's on-field abilities is the type of character, the type of experience that Jack brings to our group. We feel like those qualities will really be additive to the environment that we're trying to create,” explained General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer, Chris Tierney. “The combination of how dynamic Jack is in attacking moments will be really good for our group. I think Jack is going to combine really well with the other pieces that we have. Then, equally as important, and I think that’s plain to see for anyone that's watched Jack play, is how he fits into our group culturally.
“I've spoken a lot about us being intentional about the characters that we bring to the club and how important that is, especially in the high-leverage spots like that of a Designated Player. Again, Jack really checked both boxes for us.”
Harrison, 29, is no stranger to MLS. Most recently gaining experience in Italy’s Serie A, the Stoke-on-Trent native also has over 180 appearances in the English Premier League with Leeds United and Everton. He was integral for Leeds, with 219 total appearances and 66 goal involvements.
Harrison first joined the Premier League in 2018, signing with Manchester City after two seasons of MLS play with New York City FC. He returns to the United States with 14 goals and 13 assists in MLS.
Harrison’s time in New York wasn’t the start of his United States experience; his time on this side of the pond started in New England. At 14, Harrison left his home country to pursue more soccer and educational opportunities, attending the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts for the entirety of his high school career. He became the 2015 Gatorade National Boys soccer player of the year before playing one season at Wake Forest University. For Harrison, this move isn’t as large as it may seem. In fact, it’s a return to his second home.
“Being here at Berkshire School and everything, and having a lot of friends in this area, it definitely feels like a homecoming,” Harrison said. “I spent my formative years here. I really think that time period helped to define who I am today. I have always been grateful for that opportunity and loved every second of it. It wasn't easy leaving England at that moment in time, but I look back now and I have no regrets at all. What it's given me in life has been more than anything I could ask for, anything that I could have imagined. I've always felt at home here in the U.S.”
While he has a special place in his heart for Massachusetts and the people of New England, this place wasn’t the only thing that drew him to the Revolution. When the opportunity arose, he initially questioned leaving Europe, but knew that now was the best time to be an MLS player.
“I feel like you have the older generation of players that are coming back to help improve the league, but then also the younger players that are coming through now, as well,” he explained. “Speaking with the manager, it's the place that checked the most boxes for me and the one that felt most aligned with what I wanted to do, what I wanted to achieve, and how I wanted to be in life.”
Harrison’s signing was announced to a crowd of more than 34,000 fans at Gillette Stadium before the Revolution’s 4-1 win over Atlanta United FC on July 25. He was introduced to fans after meeting his new teammates and coaching staff, and the first impressions blew him away.
“The fans were incredible. I've never been recognized on the field like that before. I said to my agent the other day that this has been the best signing that I've done in my career so far,” he said.
His gratitude wasn’t limited to the crowd in Foxborough; he extended the appreciation to head coach Marko Mitrović and the players in the locker room.
“Marko’s methodology and how he is as a person, it really gave me good perspective on what he's like. He's very open, honest, direct, and demanding from his players, but he's humble at the same time and demands the best from his players and from himself, as well,” he explained. “Chris has spoken a lot about the character and what they're trying to build here. You can really see it off the pitch, but also getting the results on the pitch, performing together and playing for each other. It's crucial for any club to succeed. Another big reason why I wanted to come here and be a part of that is that the character that they're trying to build really matches who I am.”
With his U.S. Green Card granted, and his boots hitting the pitch at the training ground this week, Harrison is hopeful to make his debut in front of the home crowd on Saturday against Houston Dynamo FC.
Knowing that a player like Harrison already feels at home in the Revolution locker room is important, but everyone is also eager to see the difference he makes on the pitch. As a proven goal scorer and creator, he’s hoping to make a big impact as the Revs chase what the club has never accomplished before.
“I’m going to be someone who comes in and gives everything that he can on the pitch. I’m always going to do that. But also, for an ambitious club and an ambitious city, for a city full of champions in other sports, the Revolution is one team that has not been able to bring a [MLS Cup] trophy back to the city,” Harrison explained. “That’s going to be my ambition and it’s a huge part of why I wanted to come here. So, I’m going to do everything I can to bring a title back to Boston.”
