Port Vale Football Club is delighted to confirm that striker Ellis Harrison has signed for the club from Fleetwood Town for an undisclosed fee.
The 28-year-old experienced forward made his professional debut for Bristol Rovers away at Southampton in April 2011, aged just 17 after impressing as part of the reserve team.
He made his league debut the following season, grabbing an assist just five minutes after coming on, and continued his bright start, scoring his first for the club two weeks later.
The Newport born striker has previously played under Darrell Clarke during his time with the Gas, playing a key role in their return to the Football League, scoring 17 times, including six in the final five of the campaign, alongside an equaliser in their Play-Off Final win against Grimsby Town.
Harrison continued to develop in League Two with Rovers, and then Hartlepool for a short-term loan, before returning to the Memorial Ground where he scored more key goals and helped Clarke’s side achieve a second consecutive promotion to League One.
The following season he continued his scoring form, earning a new deal with the Gas after netting nine times, before having the most prolific campaign of his career the following year, scoring 14 times, 12 of which came in League One, winning the January Goal of the Month award in the process.
Harrison made his first big money move in July 2018, when Championship side Ipswich Town purchased the forward, but injuries hampered his time with the Tractor Boys and the following summer Portsmouth bought him in another big money move that saw him return to League One.
The Welshman, who represented his Under-21 national side on 14 occasions and scored three times, netted 20 times during his three seasons with Pompey, turning down moves to Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday in the process.
In January 2022 Fleetwood Town bought Harrison from Portsmouth, notching 13 goal contributions for the Cod Army last season.
Harrison arrives at Vale Park with a wealth of League One experience, having scored 76 goals and assisted 26 times in his 327 career games.
Speaking about the addition of Harrison, manager Darrell Clarke said: “I know a lot about Ellis because I made him, no disrespect to him, but Ellis would tell you that himself.
“He’s a physical presence, he can run, and he has a lot of excellent elements to his game, especially once we have the hunger back into his game and he’ll be a very good talent for us.
“When I had him at Bristol Rovers, we ended up selling him for a large fee to Ipswich, so I know very well about all his strengths, his character, how he is around the dressing room and that he is a winner.
“He also brings with him that pedigree at the League One level, and I know he is coming in hungry and ready to give his all.
“I know he’ll liven up some of the group too with his bad banter as well!
“So, we’re really pleased to have been able to have gotten this bit of business done.”
Welcome to Port Vale, Eliis!
This is subject to EFL and FA clearance.