​Wales captain Harry Wilson is thrilled that head coach Craig Bellamy will remain with the national team after discussions about him taking over at Burnley collapsed. The 29-year-old forward has also revealed that his move to Leeds United was shaped by the strong Welsh presence at Elland Road. Speaking to the BBC, Wilson said he believes he is in the prime of his career and ready to shoulder leadership duties for both club and country. Although Bellamy appeared set to take over at Turf Moor in June, the two parties could not reach an agreement with the relegated Championship club. That setback pleased Wilson, who spoke warmly about the decision to keep Bellamy in charge.
“From a selfish point of view, I’m obviously delighted that he’s staying,” Wilson said, the Wrexham-born forward reflecting on Bellamy’s impact since he joined Wales 18 months to two years ago. “He’s definitely made me a better player.” Wilson added that all of his Wales teammates have benefited from Bellamy’s coaching and philosophy. “He’s definitely made our country a better team. The way he plays, the ideas he’s conveyed to us, the way he sees football—personally, it’s benefited me, and I think if you ask everyone in that squad, they’ll say the same.” With a massive Nations League campaign ahead and the prospect of a home European Championship, Wilson stressed how important Bellamy’s continued role is for the national side.
As Bellamy readies Wales for their Nations League A schedule against Portugal, Denmark, and Norway starting in September, he’s anticipated to be a regular visitor to Elland Road. Wilson’s move to Yorkshire followed the expiration of his Fulham contract, and it adds to a significant Welsh presence at Leeds. He will join fellow Wales teammates Ethan Ampadu, Dan James, Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow, and Charlie Crew, plus Wales Under-19 defender Jayden Lienou, who is expected to earn his senior international debut soon after receiving his first senior squad call for June’s friendly with Ghana.
Wilson, who had been linked with Leeds the previous summer, said he spoke with Whites captain Ampadu in particular before making his decision. “I’d say Efe’s (Ampadu) probably the biggest one; I’ve been speaking to Efe a lot, but I’m close to all the boys, and even before getting here, on international duty, we were talking about the club, and they’ve all had positive things to say,” Wilson explained. “And then, yes, Efe being captain, he’s been on to me a lot, just like he was last summer as well. So he’s played a big part in it, but just hearing what the boys had to say about the club, the city, and the fans made the decision a bit easier.”
Wilson, who joined Fulham from Liverpool for £12 million in 2022 after a loan spell, enjoyed his most prolific Premier League season to date, tallying 10 goals in 36 appearances. The 69-cap forward has also been credited with contributing 17 goals for Wales, and his continued presence at Leeds is likely to bolster their ambitions and the national team’s prospects as they eye a successful campaign in the coming seasons.