Local lad and ex-Harrogate Town player Liam Kitching 'delighted' to seal six-figure move to the Championship
The highly-rated centre-half, 21, who started his career at Leeds United and fared well during two loan spells with the Sulphurites, has signed a four-and-a-half year deal at Oakwell.
A former Rossett School pupil, the left-sided defender departed Elland Road for Forest Green Rovers in 2019, shortly after helping hometown team Harrogate qualify for the National League play-offs.
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Hide AdThe season before, during his first spell at Wetherby Road, he scored three times in 10 matches as Town secured an historic promotion from National Leaue North.
Ever-present having made 36 appearances in all competitions during 2019/20, Kitching featured 17 times for Rovers this term and caught the eye of Barnsley, who are well-known for their business model of with recruiting young and up-and-coming talent with potential re-sale value.
His final outing for Mark Copper’s men came in their 1-0 win at former club Harrogate back in early December.
On heading back to Yorkshire, Kitching said: “I’m delighted. When the move came about I didn’t think twice about it. It’s a massive club and to move up from League Two to the Championship and get back home up north, I’m just excited for the challenge.”
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Hide AdReds chief executive officer Dane Murphy, added: “We are thrilled to add another talented player to our squad. Liam is a player who has demonstrated his ability with a number of outstanding performances in the Football League.
“The club believe he will go onto become a great success at Oakwell.”