Stephen Duke-McKenna left QPR this summer, and it has now been confirmed that he will join League Two side Harrogate Town.
Duke-McKenna joined QPR on a free transfer in the summer of 2019, after previously playing for Everton and Bolton Wanderers. He gained senior experience away from West London through loan spells in lower league football, followed by stints in the EFL with Leyton Orient and, most recently, Sutton United. Duke-McKenna has appeared for the R’s first team ten times in total, six of which came this season. However, the 23-year-old will leave Loftus Road this summer.
QPR revealed his impending release last month, and he has already found a new club.
Harrogate Town, of League Two, have announced that Duke-McKenna has joined the club on a free transfer. He joins the Sulphurites on a two-year deal as he begins a new chapter after leaving West London. Best for Duke-McKenna.
Duke-McKenna has had some promising moments in his EFL career, and he earned a position in the first-team squad during the first half of the 2023/24 season, beginning against Blackburn Rovers in October 2023.
There were some standout moments during his Sutton United loan, including two goals and an assist in the 4-4 draw with MK Dons on the last day.
At 23, however, Duke-McKenna is ready to play senior football at a high level every week. He’ll have the opportunity to do precisely that with Harrogate Town, which should help him progress and reach his full potential.
If he can regain form and maintain a starting berth for Simon Weaver’s side, he might quickly make his way back up the EFL rankings.
A necessary move.
QPR has showed faith in players like Duke-McKenna over the years, and while this is a wonderful move for him, the club had to make the decision to move him on as well.
It frees up space in the squad for Marti Cifuentes to add more new faces and may allow some youth players to establish a claim for a spot in the team during pre-season.
Cifuentes has taken advantage of the opportunity to trade some marginal players this summer, freeing up roster space to bring in new players.
The transfer window is officially open, therefore it may not be long before QPR begin to make moves to improve their ranks.
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