Players you didn’t know played for both Leeds and Bournemouth – Champions League winner among them
Leeds welcome Bournemouth to West Yorkshire this weekend in their next Premier League outing.
Leeds are back at Elland Road to play Bournemouth on Saturday, after two successive games on the road that resulted in a 1-0 defeat at Fulham and an impressive 3-1 victory against Wolves.
Leeds have never lost to Bournemouth at home and are looking to remain unbeaten this season in front of their own fans.
Tyler Adams, Lewis Cook and Max Gradel are among the many players who have lined out for both clubs over the years.
MOT Leeds News can now bring you a list of some of the players who played for both, who may not be as well known.
Adam Smith
Adam Smith has been a fixture for the Cherries for over ten years and now captains the Cherries.
Smith may be part of the exciting Bournemouth side that arrives at Elland Road on Saturday, but he also lined out for the Whites earlier in his career.
The full-back signed for Leeds back in January 2012 on a season-long loan. Smith was then-manager Simon Grayson’s last signing before being sacked the following day.
Smith made his debut in Leeds’ 3–0 win against Bristol City on 4 February. However, later that month, Tottenham recalled Smith after Kyle Walker got injured after only three appearances for Leeds.
Ian Harte
Ian Harte was a staple of Leeds’ sides of the late 90s and early 200s, helping the club reach the Champions League semi-final in 2001.
Harte had a wand of a left foot and was particularly brilliant from dead balls, being Leeds’ free-kick and penalty taker for many seasons.
The Irishman retired from football in 2015, but not after he spent two seasons on the South Coast with Bournemouth.
Harte appeared 33 times for the Cherries, scoring once and helping them to promotion to the Premier League in 2015.
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Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand is one of the best centre-backs to ever grace the Premier League, winning six titles with Manchester United, as well as the Champions League in 2008.
Ferdinand controversially left Elland Road for Old Trafford in 2002 for a British record transfer fee at the time.
The England international, however, also had a spell with Bournemouth early on in his career, after spending a spell on loan when he was at West Ham.
| Leeds career stats | Rio Ferdinand |
| Games played | 73 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Fee | £18million |
He made his debut on 9 November in a 1–1 away draw against Blackpool and played 10 games for Bournemouth before returning to West Ham in January 1997.
With Leeds underdogs this weekend against Bournemouth, Ferdinand is exactly the type of player the Whites could use.
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