Calvin Harris (footballer)

Calvin Harris (born 20 March 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.

Calvin Harris
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-03-20) 20 March 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
Colorado Rapids
Number 14
Youth career
2010–2014 Hong Kong FC
2014–2018 Wellington Phoenix
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 32 (10)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 6 (2)
2021–2022 FC Cincinnati 24 (1)
2022 FC Cincinnati 2 6 (3)
2023– Colorado Rapids 50 (5)
2023Colorado Rapids 2 (loan) 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 October 2024

Early life

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Harris was born in Middlesbrough, England.[1] His father, Terry, played for Sheffield United.[2] He moved to Hong Kong at the age of 10.[3]

Harris began his youth career with Hong Kong FC. Harris would travel from Hong Kong and train at the APFA under high performance coach Jess Ibrom. When he was 14, Harris obtained a scholarship to join the youth academy of New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix.[4] He made his debut for the senior team at the age of 16 in the 2017 Sisters City Cup against Beijing BG.[5] He went on to represent the Phoenix in the HKFC Soccer Sevens in 2016, 2017 and 2018.[6]

While Harris was free to appear in friendly games for Wellington Phoenix, he was unable to play in any organised competitions until he turned 18 due to FIFA laws prohibiting the international transfers of minors.[4] In 2018, having turned 18, he finally began appearing for Wellington Phoenix's reserves in the New Zealand Football Championship, scoring two goals in six games.[4][7] The Phoenix decided to not sign him to a first team contract for the A-League club as Harris' lack of a New Zealand passport meant they would have been required to use one of their five import slots.[4]

College career

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Going into college, Harris chose Wake Forest over Akron, Elon, and North Carolina.[8] As a freshman, Harris appeared in 23 games for Wake Forest, and scored six goals.[8] He was also named to the 2019 All-ACC Freshman Team.[9] In his second year with Wake Forest, Harris appeared in all nine matches of the fall season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scoring four goals.[8] Harris was named co-offensive Player of the Week for the week of 21–27 September,[10] and then won the award a second time later.[6]

Club career

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Harris signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer,[11] ahead of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, where he was selected second overall by FC Cincinnati.[12] Harris made his first appearance for FC Cincinnati in a friendly vs. Louisville City, coming on as a halftime substitute.[13] His competitive debut came on 14 April 2021 in a 2–2 draw vs. Nashville SC.[14][15] He made 14 appearances in his rookie season, but did not record a goal or assist.[16]

On 21 December 2022, Harris was traded to Colorado Rapids in exchange for $200,000 in General Allocation Money, with potential for a further $175,000 in General Allocation Money.[17]

Career statistics

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As of match played 21 October 2023[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2018–19 New Zealand Football Championship 6 2 0 0 6 2
FC Cincinnati 2021 Major League Soccer 16 0 16 0
2022 8 1 1 0 9 1
Total 24 1 1 0 0 0 25 1
FC Cincinnati 2 (loan) 2022 MLS Next Pro 6 3 6 3
Colorado Rapids 2023 Major League Soccer 18 1 1 0 2[a] 0 21 1
Colorado Rapids 2 (loan) 2023 MLS Next Pro 4 4 0 0 0 0 4 4
Career total 58 11 2 0 2 0 62 11
  1. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

References

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  1. ^ "Calvin Harris | FC Cincinnati". Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  2. ^ "MLS SuperDraft 2021 eligible players, Generation adidas signings announced". Major League Soccer. 14 January 2021.
  3. ^ Young, Ben (7 October 2018). "Calvin Harris on the challenges of playing and studying abroad, sacrifices he's had to make for football, and his family legacy". South China Morning Post.
  4. ^ a b c d "Wellington Phoenix tip academy graduate Calvin Harris to make instant impact in MLS". Stuff. 22 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Phoenix retain Sister City Cup as Video Assistant Referees make live debut". Wellington Phoenix. 14 February 2017.
  6. ^ a b Arya, Khushi (19 November 2020). "Deacon Spotlight: Calvin Harris". Old Gold & Black.
  7. ^ "Calvin Harris". FotMob. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Calvin Harris Profile". Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. ^ "2019 All-ACC Men's Soccer Team Announced". ACC. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Pitt, Wake Forest Take Home Men's Soccer Weekly Honors". ACC. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. ^ Brennan, Pat (21 January 2021). "'X-factor' Calvin Harris leads FC Cincinnati's 2021 MLS SuperDraft class". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
  12. ^ Clary, Jacob (21 January 2021). "FC Cincinnati selects Wake Forest forward Calvin Harris in SuperDraft". Cincinnati Soccer Talk. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  13. ^ @fccincinnati (13 March 2021). "First Preseason Scrimmage" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Calvin Harris 2021 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Nashville SC 2 - 2 FC Cincinnati: Finished | 17 April 2021 | Major League Soccer | Yahoo Sports". Yahoo! Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Calvin Harris Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Colorado Rapids acquire Calvin Harris in trade with FC Cincinnati | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  18. ^ Calvin Harris at Soccerway
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