Jack Harrison was probably ready for a fresh start after enduring a poor loan spell in Italy with Fiorentina in the latter half of last season.
After years of uncertainty over his future at Leeds United, the winger finally made his permanent move away from Elland Road in the summer.
The 29-year-old didn’t have to look far for his next destination.
Harrison returned to the MLS, joining New England Revolution on a permanent deal in July. The move made plenty of sense given his history in the league, having started his professional career with New York City FC.
The early signs suggested he had made the right decision. But his first few months back in America have not been entirely straightforward.
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Harrison made an immediate impact
Harrison wasted little time reminding MLS supporters what he can offer.
He came off the bench on his debut before starting his next game, where he registered his first assist. Things then really took off.
Against DC United, Harrison produced three assists in a single match, earning a place in the MLS Team of the Matchday.
He followed that up with assists in his next two appearances, becoming the fastest New England player to reach five assists in just four games. By the end of his first seven appearances, he had already collected six assists.
For a player who had spent much of the previous few seasons struggling to find a permanent home, it was quite the response.
Unfortunately, Harrison’s momentum was interrupted.
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Injury has slowed him down
After starting six of his first seven games, Harrison suffered a quad injury during the September 9 meeting with New York City FC.
The injury ruled him out for six weeks, bringing an abrupt halt to what had been an excellent start to life with the Revolution.
That is what makes Harrison’s start something of a mixed bag.
There is little doubt that he has already shown New England what he can bring when fit. Six assists in seven appearances is an impressive return and suggests the move back to MLS could give him the consistency he’s been missing.
But the injury timing was unfortunate, especially after he had finally found some rhythm.
Leeds supporters are probably ambivalent about what Harrison is doing in the United States, given how the relationship between them and the player fractured over the last few years.
Harrison gave the club some excellent moments at Elland Road, including his stoppage-time winner at Brentford that helped secure Premier League survival in 2022.
However, his decision to escape Leed following their relegation in 2023 made him unpopular. But that chapter at Elland Road is now closed.
If he can return to full fitness and reproduce the form he showed at the start of his New England career, he has every chance of making his next chapter a successful one.
Typical Jack Harrison. Same reason we offloaded him is the same reason Everton passed on him. He looks world class in short bursts then bang average for months and months.