Kian Harratt Explained

Kian Harratt
Full Name:Kian Shay Harratt[1]
Birth Date:21 June 2002[2]
Birth Place:Pontefract, England
Height:1.82m (05.97feet)[3]
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Huddersfield Town
Clubnumber:22
Youthclubs1:Barnsley
Youthclubs2:Leeds United
Youthyears3:2017–2019
Youthclubs3:Huddersfield Town
Years1:2019–
Clubs1:Huddersfield Town
Caps1:20
Goals1:2
Years2:2020
Clubs2:Harrogate Town (loan)
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2020
Clubs3:Guiseley (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Port Vale (loan)
Caps4:19
Goals4:3
Years5:2022
Clubs5:Bradford City (loan)
Caps5:5
Goals5:0
Club-Update:12:04, 9 February 2024 (UTC)

Kian Shay Harratt (born 21 June 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Huddersfield Town. He has previously played on loan at Harrogate Town, Guiseley, Port Vale and Bradford City. He helped Port Vale to win promotion out of League Two via the play-offs in 2022.

Early and personal life

Harratt was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire and raised in nearby Hemsworth.[4] On 1 November 2022, Harratt was fined £830 and ordered to pay £150 in costs and a victim surcharge of £83 after being convicted of taking part in hare coursing with two accomplices.[5]

Career

Harratt played for junior club Upton United and was at the academies at Barnsley and Leeds United, before signing for Huddersfield Town at under-17 level after impressing during a trial spell.[3] He scored 32 goals in 47 games for the under-17 and under-19 teams in the 2018–19 season.[3] He made his Championship debut in a 2–0 defeat to West Yorkshire derby rivals Leeds United at Kirklees Stadium on 7 December 2019; manager Danny Cowley played him as a 72nd-minute substitute for Josh Koroma.[6]

Harratt joined National League club Harrogate Town on a one-month loan starting on 17 January 2020.[7] He picked up an assist for Alex Bradley on his first start for the club, in a 2–0 victory over Eastleigh in the FA Trophy at Wetherby Road; manager Simon Weaver stated that "his energy output and his movement caused Eastleigh a lot of problems... you can see he is going to get a lot of goals in his career".[8] The loan was extended, though the 2019–20 season was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, and he returned to Harrogate for the play-offs in July.[9] He was an unused substitute in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, where Harrogate secured a place in the English Football League with victory over Notts County.

Harratt joined National League North side Guiseley on loan on 24 October 2020, on a loan intended to last until 3 January 2021, but was recalled by Huddersfield manager Carlos Corberán on 15 December.[10] He signed an extended contract in December 2021, to keep him at the club until June 2025, with an additional year option.[11] He joined League Two club Port Vale on loan on 7 January 2022, until the end of the 2021–22 season, where he would be reunited with former Huddersfield academy coach Dean Whitehead.[12] Huddersfield's Head of Football Operations Leigh Bromby stated that "it was clear from our conversations how much they wanted the player and the role they envisage for him".[13] He scored with a diving header on making his debut the following day, having come on as a substitute in a 4–1 defeat to Premier League club Brentford in an FA Cup third-round game at Vale Park.[14] Manager Darrell Clarke said after the game that "he has got a bit about him... we are really pleased and thankful to Huddersfield for allowing [the loan]".[15] Harratt went on to also score on his league debut for the "Valiants" in a 3–1 defeat to Swindon Town on 15 January.[16] On 15 March, he came of the bench to score a brace in a 3–1 home win over Mansfield Town, receiving a booking for taking his shirt off during the first goal celebration, and was compared to a young Billy Sharp by acting manager Andy Crosby.[17] He started in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium as Vale secured promotion with a 3–0 victory over Mansfield Town; Michael Baggaley of The Sentinel wrote that "The Stags defence couldn't handle him" and that he "put Vale in front with a diving header and was only denied a second by the offside flag".[18]

On 2 June 2022, he returned to League Two after agreeing to join Huddersfield's West Yorkshire derby rivals Bradford City on loan for the entirety of the 2022–23 season.[19] Manager Mark Hughes said that: "Kian has a big personality and a real drive to succeed, so we are looking forward to seeing how he fares at Valley Parade."[20] He made his club debut as a substitute on 30 July and was sent off deep into stoppage time following an altercation with Doncaster Rovers goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell as Bradford recorded a 0–0 home draw.[21] He received a three-match ban following the incident.[22] He scored his first and only goal for Bradford in an EFL Trophy tie against Sheffield Wednesday on 30 August.[23] His father spoke out on social media in September to complain of his son's lack of game time at the club.[24] On 4 November 2022, Harratt's loan at Bradford was terminated and he returned to Huddersfield, following his criminal conviction for hare coursing.[25] He scored his first goal for Huddersfield on 7 April 2023, scoring a late header in a 3–2 win away at Watford.[26] Manager Neil Warnock described him as a "good lad" and challenged the player to establish himself in the Huddersfield first-team the following season.[27]

He signed a contract extension in August 2023, with sporting director Mark Cartwright commenting that "his next challenge is to break into the first team on a more consistent basis".[28] He scored two goals in sixteen games in the 2023–24 season. He was given a four-month ban and fined £3,200 in February 2024 after placing 484 bets on football matches, including those involving his parent and loan clubs, between 30 June 2020 and 3 June 2023.[29] [30]

Style of play

Harratt is an intelligent striker with a strong physical presence and good movement.[20]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Huddersfield Town2019–20EFL Championship1000000010
2020–21EFL Championship0000000000
2021–22EFL Championship0000000000
2022–23EFL Championship4110000051
2023–24EFL Championship151001100162
2024–25EFL League One0000000000
Total202101100223
Harrogate Town (loan)2019–20National League4000002060
Guiseley (loan)2020–21National League North5010000060
Port Vale (loan)2021–22EFL League Two193110021225
Bradford City (loan)2022–23EFL League Two5000103191
Career total535312172659

Honours

Harrogate Town

Port Vale

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League clubs publish 2018/19 retained lists . Premier League . 7 June 2019 . 2 August 2020.
  2. Web site: Kian Harratt: Overview . ESPN . 2 August 2020.
  3. Web site: Kian Harratt . Huddersfield Town A.F.C. . 2 August 2020.
  4. Web site: Meet Town's new Academy scholars for 2018/19! . Huddersfield Town A.F.C. . 10 April 2018 . 2 August 2020.
  5. News: Bradford City player in court for 'barbaric' hare coursing . 1 November 2022 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 1 November 2022 . en.
  6. News: Mitchell . Brendon . Leeds go top with win at Huddersfield . 7 January 2022 . BBC Sport . 7 December 2019.
  7. Web site: Four youngsters go on loan . Eleanor . Haigh . Huddersfield Town A.F.C. . 17 January 2020 . 2 August 2020.
  8. News: Howell . Rhys . Simon Weaver pleased by impact of Kian Harratt and Maxim Kouogun on first starts for Harrogate Town . 7 January 2022 . Harrogate Advertiser . 10 February 2020 . en.
  9. News: Tomlinson . Adam . Kian Harratt Re-joins Harrogate For The Play-offs . 7 January 2022 . www.htafc.com . 6 July 2020 . en-gb.
  10. News: Threlfall-Sykes . David . Loan: Kian Harratt Joins Guiseley . 7 January 2022 . www.htafc.com . 24 October 2020 . en-gb.
  11. News: Bains . Raj . Harratt And Maroodza Extend Contracts . 7 January 2022 . www.htafc.com . 22 December 2021 . en-gb.
  12. News: Chicken . Steven . Huddersfield Town hotshot Kian Harratt secures Port Vale move . 7 January 2022 . YorkshireLive . 7 January 2022 . en.
  13. News: Threlfall-Sykes . David . Loan: Kian Harratt Joins Port Vale . 7 January 2022 . www.htafc.com . 7 January 2022 . en-gb.
  14. News: Brentford see off spirited Port Vale . 8 January 2022 . BBC Sport . 8 January 2022.
  15. News: Baggaley . Michael . Harratt helps Port Vale take heart from Brentford FA Cup defeat . 10 January 2022 . StokeonTrentLive . 8 January 2022 . en.
  16. News: Port Vale 1-3 Swindon Town . 17 January 2022 . BBC Sport . 15 January 2022.
  17. News: Port Vale 3-1 Mansfield Town . 16 March 2022 . BBC Sport . 15 March 2022.
  18. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale player ratings from Wembley win over Mansfield . 28 May 2022 . StokeonTrentLive . 28 May 2022 . en.
  19. News: City Secure Promotion-winning Harratt . 9 June 2022 . www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk . 2 June 2022 . en-gb.
  20. News: Parker . Simon . Why Hughes can see familiar traits in City's latest signing Harratt . 9 June 2022 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 2 June 2022 . en.
  21. News: Bradford City 0-0 Doncaster Rovers . 1 August 2022 . BBC Sport . 30 July 2022.
  22. Web site: Why City are unlikely to appeal Harratt's post-match red card. Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  23. News: Report: Bradford 3-1 Owls. swfc.co.uk. 30 August 2022 . 23 May 2023.
  24. News: Haley . Oscar . Kian Harratt's dad voices displeasure at son's Bradford City loan spell . 1 November 2022 . YorkshireLive . 25 September 2022 . en.
  25. News: Harratt Returns To Huddersfield . 4 November 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 4 November 2022.
  26. News: Huddersfield out of drop zone with win at Watford . 8 April 2023 . BBC Sport . 7 April 2023.
  27. News: Chicken . Steven . 'Big season' call for Kian Harratt despite Huddersfield Town transfer prediction . 11 May 2023 . YorkshireLive . 14 April 2023 . en.
  28. News: Bains . Raj . Kian Harratt Extends Town Contract! . 31 August 2023 . www.htafc.com . 29 August 2023 . en-gb.
  29. News: Huddersfield’s Kian Harratt banned for four months over 484 bets on matches . 9 February 2024 . The Guardian . 7 February 2024.
  30. News: Terriers' Harratt given four-month betting ban . 9 February 2024 . BBC Sport . 7 February 2024.
  31. News: Harrogate Town 3–1 Notts County . Jay . Freeman . BBC Sport . 2 August 2020 . 2 August 2020.
  32. News: Aloia . Andrew . Vale beat 10-man Mansfield to reach League One . 28 May 2022 . BBC Sport . 28 May 2022.