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Former Hong Kong footballer Calvin Harris joins FC Cincinnati after starring in 2021 MLS Superdraft

  • English forward will play under Jaap Stam after being picked second overall in the college draft pick
  • Harris, who spent four years in Hong Kong, says would ‘definitely have a long think’ about a national team call-up

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Former Hong Kong player Calvin Harris celebrates scoring a goal for Wake Forest at a college game in North Carolina. Photos: Handout

The 2021 MLS Superdraft’s second overall pick Calvin Harris wants to savour the milestone of becoming a fully professional footballer after signing with FC Cincinnati in January.

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The England-born 20-year-old attacker joined the MLS Eastern Conference side from college team Wake Forest, where his 10 goals and five assists in 32 games earned him a Generation Adidas pro contract for early draft eligibility.

“It has and hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s a complex one,” said Harris, who played in Hong Kong for four years in his teens before moving to New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix youth set-up.

“It will hopefully sink in when I move there around the middle of February. Being around your new club and teammates and getting my first pay cheque will ultimately be that realisation that I’ve achieved something I wanted for pretty much my whole life.”

Calvin Harris applauds the Wake Forest fans after another college game in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Calvin Harris applauds the Wake Forest fans after another college game in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
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Having said his goodbyes after two years of college football, Harris is ready to adapt to new coach Jaap Stam’s style of possession-based football. The former Manchester United and Dutch national team centre back will undoubtedly be excited at the prospect of a new speedy finisher in his squad.

“I haven’t kicked a ball with the team or been around the club so it’s very early to say what my role will be. I would obviously like to play as many minutes as I can, but I also know that will only be possible if I’m training well,” Harris said, citing some clinical finishers of generations old and new.

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