Leeds United have had some good academy merchandise down the years, however one teenager they’ve had on their books has not reached his potential after being likened to Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney at youth stage.
Leeds’ greatest ever academy merchandise
The Whites have been chargeable for producing numerous well-known Premier League gamers over the past 30 years from their well-known academy. Some, on account of the membership’s well-documented monetary issues within the early 2000’s, made their title identified at first workforce stage elsewhere.
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In the meantime, others have impressed at Elland Highway earlier than being snapped up within the switch market, the newest being Archie Grey, who joined Tottenham in 2024 in a deal considered value £40m.
Leeds’ greatest academy merchandise in photos
Proper now, Leeds have Archie’s youthful brother, Harry Grey, coming by way of the ranks, and he really made his first-team debut on the age of 16 years, 6 months, and 13 days.
Leeds United’s youngest ever gamers | Age at debut | |
|---|---|---|
1 | Peter Lorimer | 15 years, 9 months and 19 days |
2 | Tom Elliott | 16 years, 2 months and 25 days |
3 | Aaron Lennon | 16 years, 4 months and seven days |
4 | Harry Grey | 16 years, 6 months, and 13 days |
5 | James Milner | 16 years, 10 months and 6 days |
6 | Neil Aspin | 16 years, 10 months and eight days |
7 | Aidy White | 16 years, 10 months and 16 days |
8 | Simon Walton | 16 years, 10 months and 25 days |
9 | Jimmy Greenhoff | 16 years, 10 months and 26 days |
10 | Ryan Edmondson | 16 years, 11 months and 16 days |
These in Yorkshire might be hoping they’ll maintain maintain of the ahead, who’s already being likened to Michael Owen and Harry Kane, however one attacker who hasn’t lived as much as the hype has been Joe Gelhardt.
Leeds expertise set to be bought after Gerrard and Rooney comparisons
Many anticipated huge issues when Leeds swooped to signal Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic in 2020 below Marcelo Bielsa following the membership’s promotion to the Premier League. A deal for the thrilling teenager price the Whites simply £1m, and he would progress into the primary workforce, making his prime flight debut in 2021.
The attacker has gone on to attain simply three objectives for the Whites, considered one of which being a stoppage-time winner in opposition to Norwich Metropolis, whereas he additionally produced a chunk of good talent which helped maintain Leeds within the Premier League in 2022.
Nevertheless, Gelhardt has struggled for consistency and has been despatched out on mortgage to Sunderland and Hull Metropolis, and now appears to be like set to be bought on a everlasting foundation in 2025 if a membership is available in with a proposal within the area of £3m-£4m.
Lengthy-time Merseyside Boys’ supervisor Tim Wyatt even mentioned that Gelhardt caught the attention simply as a lot as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney did once they had been all 14 years of age.
“Only a few gamers stand out at 14. Steven Gerrard did in my first season, Rooney and positively Joe. I remembering him turning up for our trial trying Rooney-esque. He scored three in 10 minutes on a chilly and wet night time so I mentioned he may go residence to maintain heat as a result of he’d already made the workforce.”
Wigan’s former head of academy and now sporting director Gregor Rioch was additionally stuffed with reward for Gelhardt whereas he was on the Latics, saying he “had the X-factor”.
“Joffy was a throwback. He’d have a youth sport within the morning after which go off to play along with his mates. Loads of youngsters keep residence on PlayStation. he cherished the recent air. On the pitch, he had a capability to search out area in tight areas and beat gamers one on one. He had the X-factor.”
It’s a case of what may have been for Gelhardt at Elland Highway, and nonetheless simply 23 years of age, he’ll be trying to get his profession again on observe elsewhere.
