Rekeem Jordan Harper (born 8 March 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Port Vale.
Born in Birmingham, Harper came through the Academy at West Bromwich Albion, turning professional after making his first appearance in the Premier League in August 2017.
He was named West Brom's Young Player of the Year for the 2018–19 campaign and made ten Championship appearances as the club secured promotion back to the Premier League at the end of the 2019–20 season.
[7] He made his professional debut on 12 August 2017 as a second-half substitute in Albion's 1–0 win over AFC Bournemouth, in doing so becoming only the second Premier League player to have been born in the 2000s.
[10] Manager Tony Mowbray said it was an opportunity for the youngster to "play some football and enjoy himself and show everyone his talent" whilst competing with Corry Evans, Peter Whittingham and Willem Tomlinson for a first-team spot alongside Richard Smallwood.
[13] He received a red card for a professional foul in an FA Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 3 December – Mowbray said he was "baffled" by the referee's decision.
[14][15] He made nine appearances for Blackburn, of which just one was a league start, before new Albion manager Alan Pardew recalled him to The Hawthorns in the New Year as he looked to personally assess the club's young players.
[16][17] After returning to West Brom, Harper made his first appearance of the 2018–19 season in an EFL Cup tie on 14 August, starting in a 1–0 win against Luton Town.
[20] Harper made 23 appearances throughout the season, scoring once, helping West Brom to qualify for the EFL Championship play-offs following a fourth-place league finish.
[29][30] Following West Brom's return to the Premier League, Harper made his first appearance of the 2020–21 season on the opening match day, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Leicester City.
[42] On 31 January 2022, Harper joined fellow League One side Crewe Alexandra, who were 13 places below Ipswich and six points shy of safety from relegation, on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.
[43][44] Manager Kieran McKenna said that the loan move worked for all parties as Crewe boss David Artell and his coaching staff followed the club's "tradition of a good way of doing things on the pitch".
[49] He began well at St James Park, contributing two assists as he formed a strong early partnership with Archie Collins in a 3–4–1–2 shape under the stewardship of Matt Taylor.
[57] On 1 November 2024, Harper was reunited with his former West Brom manager Darren Moore when he joined League Two club Port Vale on a deal until the end of the 2024–25 season.
[63] He played alongside Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, and later said that "I remember... looking at those players and thinking this is the level you want to be at every week" and that "it's a really special memory I hold".