Kenyan international defender Vincent Harper has officially signed with English League Two outfit Walsall FC, bringing an end to his stint with League One side Exeter City.
The 24-year-old wing-back has penned a two-year contract with the Saddlers, with the club holding an option to extend his stay by a further year. The move is subject to EFL and FA clearance.
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Harper, known for his dynamic style of play and athleticism, makes the switch after spending two seasons at Exeter City, where he made 65 appearances, netting three goals and providing three assists.
His pace, versatility, and attacking instincts from the flanks made him a key asset for the Grecians during his time at St James Park.
“I am buzzing,” Harper said after completing the move. “I am happy to finally get it all sorted and I’m looking forward to getting started. Speaking to the gaffer and what he’s got planned sold it to me. Playing here at the start of last season, I liked the vibe and the atmosphere so when it came about I wanted to get involved straight away.”
He added: “I’m energetic, I like to defend and I like to attack. I’m nice and dynamic and I like to have fun on the pitch. I want to do the best I can and help the team win games.”
Born in England to Kenyan parents, Harper began his career at Bristol City. Though he didn’t feature for the senior team at Ashton Gate, he gained valuable first-team experience through loan spells at Gloucester City, Weston-super-Mare, and Bath City.
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Following his release from Bristol City in 2021, Harper briefly joined Chippenham Town before being snapped up by Eastleigh in the National League. It was at Eastleigh where he began to catch attention, particularly during the 2022–23 campaign, where he scored four goals and was one of the side’s standout performers. His consistent displays earned him a move to Exeter City for an undisclosed compensation fee.
Internationally, Harper earned his first call-up to the Kenya national team in October 2023 and was named on the bench for a friendly against Russia, signalling the start of his journey with the Harambee Stars.
Walsall head coach Mat Sadler could not hide his delight at landing the highly-rated defender, speaking to the club’s media.
“Vincent is a very explosive wing-back with a very athletic profile,” said Sadler. “He’s quick, likes to get at his man but he’s a very good one-v-one defender as well. He comes to us on the back of a lot of games in League One last season for Exeter so it’s a very important signing for us. “He is someone we have worked on for quite some time in the off-season and he was highly sought after by a lot of clubs in our division.”
Harper becomes one of Walsall’s key acquisitions ahead of the 2025/26 campaign as the Saddlers look to bolster their squad for a strong promotion push.
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