Just a couple of days after it appeared that his career was in limbo, Singapore international midfielder Hariss Harun has landed a dream loan spell in Spain.
The Johor Darul Ta'zim star, who was in search for his next career step for the 2017 season, will join Spanish third division club, Ce L'Hospitalet.
The move was announced through JDT's Southern Tigers' Facebook page and ends speculation that Hariss might return to the S.League.
Instead, he will become the first Singaporean to play for a Spanish professional club.
It lifts the gloom on a depressing few months for the 26-year-old who was part of an unsuccessful AFF Suzuki Cup campaign before seeing proposed moves to Portugal or Japan fail to materialise.
He has been deemed surplus to 2017 requirements at JDT, who have already filled their import quota for the current Malaysia Super League campaign.
"Hariss will be on a year-long loan... to gain experience and improve the quality of his game," read the Facebook post.
"Without a doubt, this long-term plan will have a positive impact on the club in the future."
Hariss, who has earned 71 senior caps for Singapore since 2007, joined JDT in 2014 after winning the 2013 MSL with LionsXII.
Since arriving at the Johor club, he has won seven trophies, including three MSL titles and the 2015 AFC Cup.
He scored JDT's only goal in regular time when they defeated Selangor on penalties to lift the 2016 Charity Shield.
He was 2010 S.League Player of the Year with Young Lions, playing five seasons with the developmental side.
It is unclear if his new commitments in Spain will preclude him from taking part in Singapore's 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign this year. Their third round matches begin next month with a trip to Bahrain on Mar. 29.
