We are delighted to announce that Mikey Harkin has signed his first professional contract at the club.
The 18-year-old winger joined the club last January and hasn’t looked back since becoming part of our Scholarship Programme.
Harkin has featured regularly for both our U18 and U20 NIFL sides, playing his part in the NIFL U18 Academy League triumph last season, making club history by qualifiying for the UEFA Youth League for the very first time.
In the club’s first ever UEFA Youth League tie against Racing Union of Luxembourg, Mikey Harkin delivered on the big stage, putting in a man of the match performance as the young Invermen picked up a 2-0 first leg victory at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
Harkin’s performances during the end of last season and the start of this campaign caught the eye of first-team manager Gary Haveron who handed the then 17-year-old his first-team debut in the Co. Antrim Shield victory over Queens University back in September.
It turned out to be a memorable week for the teenager as he made his Sports Direct Premiership debut just three days later in a 2-0 victory at Clandeboye Park against Bangor.
Harkin has gone on to make two further first-team appearances, one more in the Co. Antrim Shield and one further in the Sports Direct Premiership, showing the trust shown in the teenager from Gary Haveron.
Speaking on signing his first professional contract, Mikey said:
“It’s a proud day for me and my family.
“Since joining last year from Coleraine, I found it a lot tougher here when I arrived but I’ve been playing regularly with the U18s and U20s, alongside training with the first team so it has been a great experience.
“From making my debut and training regularly with the first team, I feel like I fit in really well with all of the boys and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for me at Larne Football Club.”
