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Tottenham Hotspur Women have been in preseason training for a week now, but were one of the few WSL clubs to have yet to announce a new player signing. Until now. This morning, Spurs Women announced the free agent signing of Kerys Harrop, a 29-year old defender and former captain of Birmingham City Women.
✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of @KerysHarrop.
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen) July 23, 2020
The defender has put pen to paper on a contract with the Club that will run until 2022 and will wear the number 5️⃣ shirt.
https://t.co/bYuxlskUpM#WelcomeKerys ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/nUEhOuNNwT
Harrop had been at Birmingham for 20 years, first joining when she was an 8-year old schoolgirl. Over her long, LONG career with the Blues she had helped lead them to WSL runners-up finishes in 2011 and 2012, and lifted the FA Cup in 2012. Birmingham City finished second to bottom in the table last season ahead of only relegated Liverpool. Harrop had played in 7 of Birmingham’s 13 league matches, starting 6 of them. Though she will not end her career at BIrmingham City, it would not surprise me in the slightest if she eventually is part of their Hall of Fame and given a testimonial.
Three weeks ago Harrop announced in a video on YouTube and Birmingham City’s website that she was leaving City at the conclusion of her contract for “a new challenge.” City’s loss is Tottenham’s gain. Harrop will join a defender corps at Tottenham that suffered a leadership blow after this summer’s retirement of captain Jenna Schillaci, giving Spurs a significant boost in top flight experience. Harrop should be in the rotation for starts in Spurs’ back line right from the start.
Speaking of her move to Tottenham, Harrop was pleased to be joining a club that is moving up in the table.
“Coming to Spurs is a very exciting challenge for me and I know that the Club are heading in a positive direction. I want to continue to develop as a player under the management of [co-managers] Karen [Hills] and Juan [Amoros], and give my all to the Club both on and off the pitch.
“Having previously played in FA Cup finals and in the Champions League, I want to experience that again and I’m hopeful of doing that here at Spurs.”
This is unlikely going to be the only signing Spurs Women make this summer, but their first is a solid pick-up. Welcome to Tottenham, Kez!