Leeds United have had some brilliant academy products down the years, but one youngster they’ve had on their books has not reached his potential after being likened to Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney at youth level.
Leeds’ best ever academy products
The Whites have been responsible for producing a number of well-known Premier League players over the last 30 years from their famous academy. Some, as a result of the club’s well-documented financial problems in the early 2000’s, made their name known at first team level elsewhere.
Related
Leeds United’s most expensive sales of all time
Football FanCast takes a look at Leeds’ record departures.
Meanwhile, others have impressed at Elland Road before being snapped up in the transfer market, the latest being Archie Gray, who joined Tottenham in 2024 in a deal thought to be worth £40m.
Leeds’ best academy products in pictures
Right now, Leeds have Archie’s younger brother, Harry Gray, coming through the ranks, and he actually made his first-team debut at the age of 16 years, 6 months, and 13 days.
|
Leeds United’s youngest ever players |
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 7 days |
|
4 |
Harry Gray |
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 8 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 |
Those in Yorkshire will be hoping they can keep hold of the forward, who is already being likened to Michael Owen and Harry Kane, but one attacker who hasn’t lived up to the hype has been Joe Gelhardt.
Leeds talent set to be sold after Gerrard and Rooney comparisons
Many expected big things when Leeds swooped to sign Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa following the club’s promotion to the Premier League. A deal for the exciting teenager cost the Whites just £1m, and he would progress into the first team, making his top flight debut in 2021.
The attacker has gone on to score just three goals for the Whites, one of which being a stoppage-time winner against Norwich City, while he also produced a piece of brilliant skill which helped keep Leeds in the Premier League in 2022.
However, Gelhardt has struggled for consistency and has been sent out on loan to Sunderland and Hull City, and now looks set to be sold on a permanent basis in 2025 if a club comes in with an offer in the region of £3m-£4m.
Long-time Merseyside Boys’ manager Tim Wyatt even said that Gelhardt caught the eye just as much as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney did when they were all 14 years of age.
“Very few players stand out at 14. Steven Gerrard did in my first season, Rooney and certainly Joe. I remembering him turning up for our trial looking Rooney-esque. He scored three in 10 minutes on a cold and rainy night so I said he could go home to keep warm because he’d already made the team.”
Wigan’s former head of academy and now sporting director Gregor Rioch was also full of praise for Gelhardt while he was at the Latics, saying he “had the X-factor”.
“Joffy was a throwback. He’d have a youth game in the morning and then go off to play with his mates. A lot of kids stay home on PlayStation. he loved the fresh air. On the pitch, he had an ability to find space in tight areas and beat players one on one. He had the X-factor.”
It’s a case of what could have been for Gelhardt at Elland Road, and still just 23 years of age, he’ll be looking to get his career back on track elsewhere.
