Harrogate sign Ellis Taylor after Sunderland deal expires
Sunderland academy product Ellis Taylor has secured a move to Harrogate Town, the League Two club have confirmed on social media.
The Yorkshiremen posted on X [16 July] to confirm that the 21-year-old has signed a two-year deal following a successful trial period, during which he scored against Huddersfield Town last weekend.
Taylor captained the Sunderland Under-21 side last season, inspirationally guiding the team to the Premier League 2 play-off final against Tottenham [Sunderland Echo, 28 May], and many fans had called for the club to offer him a new contract as it expired this summer.
Sunderland U21 captain lands Harrogate switch
Harrogate will have been among numerous clubs keeping tabs on Taylor as soon as they became aware of his contract situation, with it commonly agreed on that he would not receive a new deal [BBC Sport, 17 May] at Sunderland.
As assured as his performances were for the Black Cats’ Under-21s and how immensely he has dealt with difficulties in his personal life to the credit of everyone at the club, Taylor never made a league appearance in red and white and was restricted to five cup outings.
Extremely versatile, the agile and athletic operator can play on either wing, slot in at either full-back position and has also been deployed less frequently as both a number 10 and a central striker.
The move also allows Taylor another crack at League Two action, having played four times on loan at boyhood club Hartlepool United in the EFL in 2022-23, eight times in all competitions.
At Sunderland since the age of nine until this summer, Taylor now has a solid foundation for the rest of his career.