Harry Wilson says he has come to Leeds United to improve on last season after being given the hard sell by his Wales team-mate Ethan Ampadu.
Playmaker Wilson has signed a four-year contract at Elland Road, ending a pursuit that began late in the last summer transfer window.
Leeds came close to signing Wilson then, but with Fulham unable to bring in the players they wanted first, he remained at Craven Cottage for the final year of his contract there. Having avoided Premier League relegation, Leeds came back in for him this summer, and now have not had to pay a transfer fee.
From a personal perspective, Wilson feels it may have turned out for the best this way too.
RECRUITING AGENT: Ethan Ampadu (centre) was a big influence in luring Harry Wilson (second right) to Leeds United (Image: Andreas Solaro - Pool/Getty Images)placeholder image
RECRUITING AGENT: Ethan Ampadu (centre) was a big influence in luring Harry Wilson (second right) to Leeds United (Image: Andreas Solaro - Pool/Getty Images)
Leeds finished 14th in last season's top flight and in truth repeating that would be an excellent achievement, but it is the nature of top sportspeople that they always want more.
“I think the ambitions of the club, the size of the club,” said Wilson when asked what had attracted him.
“I can only go off the two games I played against Leeds last season and both games were really tough. Both were quite similar in a way, where Fulham won the one at Craven Cottage and Leeds won the one here.
“They were both really tough games. I remember the one here (at Elland Road), I think we were hanging on a bit and thought we'd done enough to get a draw and then Leeds scored late on (through Lukas Nmecha in stoppage time).
GETTING IT IN WRITING: Harry Wilson puts pen to paper on a four-year deal at Leeds United (Image courtesy of Leeds United)placeholder image
GETTING IT IN WRITING: Harry Wilson puts pen to paper on a four-year deal at Leeds United (Image courtesy of Leeds United)
“Seeing how tough they were to play against last season, how solid they were, especially at the back end of the season I wanted to come here to try and improve the team and improve on last season.
“Coming to a club like Leeds, a massive club, I grew up in North Wales in the early 2000s, so I know what the club was like, where it's been, the history it's got. To be part of the squad that can go on and do great things for this club, it's something I'm excited about.
“I think after all the calls and the chat I had with people at Leeds – the boys were ringing me as well – it was all good things, all positive.
“Once I had the chats and had a long, hard think about things, it came to the decision that this was going to be the best place for me.”
IMPRESSION: Harry Wilson played for Fulham against Leeds United last season (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
IMPRESSION: Harry Wilson played for Fulham against Leeds United last season (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Many of those chats were instigated by Ethan Ampadu, the captain of Leeds and one of five Welsh internationals at the club last season along with Joe Rodon, Daniel James, Charlie Crew and goalkeeper Karl Darlow, now out of contract.
“I've been speaking to Eath a lot, but I'm close to all the boys,” said 29-year-old Wilson. “Even on international duty (in the summer), speaking about the club, they've all had positive things to say.
“Eath being captain, he's been on to me a lot, just like he was last summer. He's played a big part in it.
“Just hearing what the boys had to say about the club, about the city, about the fans, that made the decision a bit easier.”
Of last year's failed move, he said: “It came out of the blue 24 hours before the (transfer) deadline.
“I'd just had a new-born, so maybe that happened for a reason. I feel like the timing maybe wasn't right.
“As the season went on, I felt I had a really good season, a really strong season. I'm a big believer in things happening for a reason.
“Ten or 11 months down the line it's happened now.”
The delay has the added advantage that Wilson arrives on the back of arguably the best season of his career.
It was certainly the first where the former Hull City loanee hit double-figure goals in the Premier League, including some eye-catching ones. He also had seven assists as he played in 36 of the Cottagers’ 38 league matches.
He scored more goals earlier in his career, but only playing in the Championship.
Wilson is a versatile forward but the left-footer seems likely to play most of his games in Leeds’ inside-right position having spent most of last term as an “inverted” right winger for Fulham.
“I feel I'm in a really good place to come here and hit the ground running,” reflected Wilson.
“It's a four-year deal, something I'm really happy with. That's what I wanted.
“I think when you get to maybe late 20s, 30s, deals can tend to be a bit less. But I think I take good care of my body. I've really been lucky with injuries, (with) my body, I'm in a good place.
“I feel 21. I'd like to think that won't be a factor, slowing down by the end of the deal. I'd like to think I'm just getting stronger.
“I'm an attacking player.
“I like to create, I like to score. Ultimately, as an attacking player, you're judged on that. There's a bit of pressure on you to produce it, but that's what I enjoy.
“That's ultimately going to be my job in the team, to get on the ball in attacking areas and try and make things happen. It's something I enjoy doing and hopefully something I'll be able to do here.”
Wilson is Leeds’ first signing of the transfer window.