NafisaJoe Gelhardt on the brink of Leeds United exit as Championship promotion heroes agree four-year return to Hull City
There was a time when Leeds United supporters genuinely believed Joe Gelhardt could become one of the faces of the club’s next generation.
The forward arrived at Elland Road as a highly-rated teenager, having already shown at Wigan Athletic that he possessed the technical ability, physicality and confidence to make an impact at senior level.
Leeds moved quickly to secure his services in 2020, with plenty of excitement surrounding the youngster’s potential.
But football does not always follow the script.
Despite several promising moments, Gelhardt never quite managed to establish himself as a consistent first-team player at Elland Road. Opportunities came and went, while loan spells eventually became the most realistic route for him to get the regular football he needed.
Now, after two productive spells with Hull City, the next chapter of his career is finally taking shape.
And this time, it looks like Leeds are ready to make the move permanent.
What do we know about Joe Gelhardt’s Leeds United exit?
Hull’s interest in Gelhardt has been one of the more persistent storylines surrounding the Leeds forward this summer.
At one stage, however, it appeared the Tigers’ pursuit had stalled.
That briefly opened the door for other clubs to enter the race, with Wrexham and Birmingham City among the Championship sides linked with the 24-year-old.
Rangers were also mentioned as a potential destination, giving Gelhardt several possible routes away from Elland Road.
But Hull had an obvious advantage.
Gelhardt already knew the club, the supporters and the environment, having enjoyed two loan spells with the Tigers.
More importantly, his latest spell proved just how effective he could be when given regular responsibility.
Gelhardt scored 15 Championship goals last season as Hull secured promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs.
That form convinced Hull they should revisit the possibility of bringing him back permanently.
And according to the Hull Daily Mail, the two clubs have now reached an agreement for his transfer.
Gelhardt has also agreed personal terms on a four-year contract running until 2030, with Hull holding an option to extend the agreement for another year.
Unless there is a late twist, the move should therefore be completed imminently.
He could even be involved when Hull take on Nice in a friendly this weekend.
For Leeds, it brings an end to a story that began with enormous expectations five years ago.
It just never worked for Gelhardt at Leeds
There is unlikely to be much bitterness surrounding Gelhardt’s departure.
If anything, there should be a considerable amount of goodwill towards a player who always appeared to have the talent but could never quite turn that potential into sustained success at Elland Road.
Leeds supporters saw glimpses of what he could become.
There were flashes of brilliance, moments where his close control, strength and ability around the penalty area suggested that a breakthrough might finally be coming.
But consistency proved elusive.
As Leeds evolved under Daniel Farke and eventually returned to the Premier League, the competition for attacking positions became increasingly fierce.
That left Gelhardt facing an increasingly difficult battle for regular minutes.
His performances with Hull, however, offered a reminder that there is still plenty of football in him.
Scoring 15 league goals in a promotion-winning campaign is no small achievement, particularly for a player still trying to establish himself at senior level.
The move also gives him something Leeds could no longer offer: the opportunity to become an important player rather than fighting for occasional appearances.
A fresh Premier League opportunity awaits
The biggest question now is whether Gelhardt can reproduce his Championship form after stepping back into the Premier League.
That remains to be seen.
Hull will be hoping the answer is yes, particularly after investing in a player they already know can perform in their system.
For Gelhardt, meanwhile, this is arguably the perfect opportunity to prove that his Leeds career does not define him.
His time at Elland Road may ultimately be remembered as a case of unrealised potential, but a successful spell at Hull could completely change that narrative.
Leeds, meanwhile, are moving in a different direction.
Farke’s squad is being rebuilt with Premier League survival and long-term progression in mind, while the club continue to strengthen their attacking options.
There simply does not appear to be a clear pathway for Gelhardt to become a regular starter anymore.
That makes a permanent departure sensible for all parties.
Leeds get to move on from a player who was no longer part of their plans, Hull get a proven promotion contributor they already know, and Gelhardt finally gets the chance to establish himself somewhere he has previously thrived.
After all the speculation, the 24-year-old’s Leeds story appears to be reaching its conclusion.
And perhaps, for the player who once arrived at Elland Road carrying so much promise, a fresh start at Hull is exactly what he needs.
Nafisa
