I used to be nearly as good as Gerrard and Rooney at youth stage, however solely scored 3 objectives for Leeds
Leeds United have had some good academy merchandise down the years, however one teen 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 accountable for producing a variety of 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 identify identified at first group 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 most recent being Archie Grey, who joined Tottenham in 2024 in a deal considered value £40m.
Leeds’ greatest academy merchandise in footage
Proper now, Leeds have Archie’s youthful brother, Harry Grey, coming via 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 will likely be hoping they’ll preserve 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 offered after Gerrard and Rooney comparisons
Many anticipated huge issues when Leeds swooped to signal Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic in 2020 underneath Marcelo Bielsa following the membership’s promotion to the Premier League. A deal for the thrilling teenager value the Whites simply £1m, and he would progress into the primary group, making his prime flight debut in 2021.
The attacker has gone on to attain simply three objectives for the Whites, one in all which being a stoppage-time winner in opposition to Norwich Metropolis, whereas he additionally produced a bit of good talent which helped preserve 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 seems to be set to be offered on a everlasting foundation in 2025 if a membership is available in with a suggestion within the area of £3m-£4m.
Lengthy-time Merseyside Boys’ supervisor Tim Wyatt even stated that Gelhardt caught the attention simply as a lot as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney did after 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 evening so I stated he may go residence to maintain heat as a result of he’d already made the group.”
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 recreation within the morning after which go off to play along with his mates. A variety of youngsters keep residence on PlayStation. he cherished the contemporary 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 seeking to get his profession again on observe elsewhere.
