Harry Wilson interview: Leeds United new boy on his response to last summer's failed move
When Harry Wilson was offered the chance to join Leeds United last summer, everything was a bit rushed. Ten months on, what the Welshman is joining has changed, but his decision has not.
Especially in English football, players operating in the parts of the pitch Wilson does have to think clearly in a maelstrom. Last season gave him plenty of practice.
In September, Leeds wanted him as their right winger and chief creator to help break the cycle of teams yo-yoing between the Championship and Premier League.
Wilson wanted to come and Fulham wanted to sell – but only if replacements joined first. When they did not, the deal was off.
Now, instead of joining a major rebuild, his job is simply to improve a team with a season of top-flight football under their belts.
By waiting until Wilson's contract ran out, Leeds no longer have to pay a transfer fee, and he comes on the back of a first Premier League campaign hitting double-figure goals.
For the Liverpool academy graduate who spent most of his time on their books out on loan at various clubs including Hull City and Derby County, the decision to uproot from London was momentous enough that it was probably worth spending some time thinking about.
"I had a lot of loans early on in my career," he reflects. "To be at a club (Fulham) for five seasons, we found somewhere where we felt at home. We had two children down there.
"So when the realisation hit that we were going to be leaving Fulham it was tough because it was the first time in my life, really, I had a family to think about in football.
"It was difficult to leave friends and a place we've called home for five years, but ultimately, I feel like I've made the right decision."
He can look back with satisfaction on the professionalism he showed when the deal collapsed.
"It was (during) the international window," recalls Wilson. "I think it was a Sunday night, I was going down to Cardiff, and I got the call off my agent in Leeds, (asking) if I wanted to get a deal done.
"Deadline day was the Monday, so everything happened really quickly.
"It wasn't until maybe the flight out to Kazakhstan a couple of days later, where I'm on the plane for six, seven hours, I actually thought about it and how our lives could have changed so quickly, but I think it happened for a reason.
"Once the window closed and I knew the move wasn't happening, I had full focus on the season because I had another big year in the Premier League, but also potentially the World Cup at the end of it (Wales lost a qualification play-off). I didn't want any distractions.
"I finished the season before really strongly and I was desperate to take that into (2025-26). I knew at the end of it I had a potential World Cup and a potential free transfer, so I wanted to put myself in the best position possible.
"As it looked more and more likely I was going to become a free agent I didn't want any conversations before the season finished, because it felt like I was having a really good year, and any talks or distractions would maybe put a stop to that."
The time has given Wilson a chance to take a closer look at the team he now joins, including playing against them home and away for the Cottagers.
"Seeing the way Leeds performed, especially towards the end of the season... as a newly-promoted team it was really, really, really impressive," he comments.
"It was evident to see from maybe the turn of the year that they were going to be a Premier League side again so I was hoping they would be an option (to join this summer).
"Nothing really got mentioned before that, but once the season finished they were there. It was only positive conversations."
Part of the discussion was about tactics. Wilson drifted in off the right wing of Fulham's 4-2-3-1 last season. Leeds started the campaign in a 4-3-3 but their fortunes changed when they swapped to a 3-4-2-1. From the way Wilson speaks, another tweak cannot be ruled out for 2026-27.
"That was part of the conversation with the manager," he reveals. "He said his preferred formation is a four at the back, but there were large parts last season where they felt he had to adapt.
"A large part of my Wales career I've played with a back five as one of the two behind the striker. I feel it's a role that suits the type of player I am.
"At Fulham, when we lost a few players to AFCON (at the turn of the year), we actually played that formation for a while and it worked well for us. I scored quite a few of my goals in that position.
"So I feel like whatever formation the manager decides to play, I feel like I can help the team."