NafisaThere was supposed to be a fresh beginning for former Leeds United defender Leo Hjelde after he finally brought the curtain down on a difficult spell in English football.
Instead, his latest chapter has begun in devastating fashion.
The Norwegian defender completed a move to Belgian side Mechelen last week after leaving Sunderland, signing a three-year contract as he looked to rebuild a career that has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries and a lack of regular first-team football.
Sunday was supposed to mark the start of that new journey.
Hjelde was handed a starting role for Mechelen’s Belgian Pro League clash with Standard Liege, giving the 22-year-old an immediate opportunity to establish himself in his new surroundings.
But the match quickly turned into a nightmare.
Hjelde stretchered off on Mechelen debut
Hjelde started the match at home to Standard Liege, but his debut was cut brutally short after just 38 minutes.
The defender was forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher, immediately raising concerns about the seriousness of the problem.
Mechelen eventually played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, but the result was overshadowed by the injury suffered by their new signing.
According to Sunderland Echo reporter James Copley, Hjelde has suffered a patellar tendon tear and is expected to be sidelined for at least six months.
Belgian outlet GVA has also reported that the defender is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days.
It is a brutal blow for a player who had only just completed his move to Belgium and was hoping to finally find some stability.
A cruel twist after leaving Sunderland
Hjelde’s move to Mechelen came after another difficult period at Sunderland.
The defender joined the Black Cats permanently in January 2024 after spending two-and-a-half years with Leeds United.
He had struggled to establish himself at Elland Road, making only eight appearances across all competitions, including just two Premier League appearances.
Leeds eventually agreed a deal worth around £1.5 million for Hjelde to join Sunderland.
But his time on Wearside failed to provide the consistent breakthrough he needed.
He made 17 appearances during the 2024/25 Championship campaign as Sunderland eventually secured promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs.
However, another serious injury then disrupted his progress.
Hjelde underwent surgery on an Achilles problem in June 2025 and subsequently failed to make a single appearance for Sunderland last season.
After a brief loan spell at Sheffield United, another permanent departure eventually followed.
This time, Belgium was supposed to be the opportunity to start again.
Instead, Hjelde has suffered another major setback almost immediately.
His career has been repeatedly interrupted
The latest injury is particularly cruel given how difficult Hjelde’s career has been to establish.
He joined Leeds from Celtic having never made a senior first-team appearance for the Glasgow club.
His only senior experience at that stage had come during a loan spell with Ross County.
Leeds subsequently sent him to Rotherham United during the 2022/23 season, giving the defender an opportunity to gain valuable Championship experience.
He made 13 appearances for the Millers before returning to Leeds.
But opportunities at Elland Road remained limited.
Across his two-and-a-half years with the Whites, Hjelde never managed to turn his potential into a sustained run in the first team.
His eventual move to Sunderland was therefore viewed as another chance to kick-start his career.
There were flashes of promise, but regular football remained difficult to find.
Mechelen now face a long wait
The Belgian club will now have to cope without a player they had only just brought through the door.
Hjelde’s three-year contract suggested Mechelen saw him as an important part of their plans moving forward.
Instead, the club now faces the prospect of being without him for at least six months.
The immediate priority will be surgery and rehabilitation, with the defender facing another long road back to full fitness.
For Hjelde personally, the timing could hardly be worse.
After years of struggling for regular football, he finally secured a fresh start in a new country and was immediately trusted to start.
Within 38 minutes, that opportunity was taken away from him.
The 22-year-old now faces another period of rehabilitation and uncertainty.
After everything he has already endured since leaving Celtic, through Leeds, Rotherham and Sunderland, the latest setback represents perhaps the cruelest chapter yet.
All Hjelde can do now is focus on recovery and hope that, when he eventually returns, the Belgian adventure can finally become the fresh start he had been searching for.
Nafisa
