Former NYCFC player Jack Harrison is back in MLS, but with another club

Jack Harrison only spent two seasons with New York City FC, but fans remember his time with the club fondly. The club traded for him right after Chicago Fire FC drafted him as the first overall pick. He made 61 appearances during those two years before he was transferred to Manchester City F.C., a team he never played for.

Between loan deals and a permanent move, the Englishman played for four different clubs in Europe, spending most of his time with Leeds United F.C. in the Championship and Premier League. But now, the player is returning to Major League Soccer. However, it is not with NYCFC, but rather with fellow Eastern Conference team, the New England Revolution.

Mixed emotions about Jack Harrison not being with NYCFC

Harrison has signed a Designated Player contract with the Revolution, keeping him with the club through the 2029-2030 season. The winger joins a side that is having a solid season in MLS and is enhancing their roster. As someone who is familiar with the league, it should not take him long to adjust to his new surroundings.

Now, looking at this signing from the NYCFC fan perspective, it might hurt. Fans loved Harrison, and they were so proud that he went to Europe. There was this thought that maybe he would one day come back to the Big Apple, but alas, that is not the case. Some might have questioned why they did not bring him back and instead signed Bénie Traoré as a DP, and there might be a solid argument there. Perhaps the Ivorian player could have been signed using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) instead.

However, Traoré is a versatile forward, and NYCFC needed that. Harrison is a winger and could not play as the striker. Plus, the club wanted a younger player with potential. And truth be told, it is quite possible that maybe the former Pigeon was not looking to move to MLS, but New England approached him. If he wanted to come back, then perhaps NYCFC would have inquired about him.

But again, maybe not. As good as Harrison is, Pascal Jansen has a vision for the team, and someone like the winger would not fit the plan.

Meanwhile, if there was any club that Harrison would join that is not NYCFC, then the Revolution makes the most sense. Remember, while he might have played with Manhattan SC in his youth, he went to boarding school at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Hence, he has lived in the New England area and has ties there.

So, in a way, it is easy to be mixed about Harrison's return to MLS. Sure, it would have been great to have him back with the club, but again, perhaps New England reached out to his team to inquire about his services, and that is why he is back. Maybe NYCFC knew about him wanting to return, but the timing and needs of the current squad did not make him a fit at this time. No matter the reason, the truth is that he is now with a different MLS club, and nothing will change that.

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