Anthony Onifade

Sat 22 July 2023 13:10, UK

Leeds United have confirmed that Adam Forshaw won’t be returning to Elland Road following his contract expiry and Phil Hay has shared his next steps after receiving an offer elsewhere.

In a tweet on its official Twitter account (22 July), the club thanked the veteran midfielder for his five-and-a-half-year service at Elland Road and will be leaving after the expiry of his contract.

And according to Hay, taking to his personal Twitter account (22 July), Forshaw has received an offer from Saudi Arabia as the 31-year-old midfielder seeks a new adventure.

Hay tweeted: “Adam Forshaw won’t be rejoining Leeds United. He and the club had discussed a new deal on reduced terms.

“Other interests in him, including an offer from Saudi Arabia. Moves on after five and a half years.”

Farewell

Given Forshaw’s extensive fitness issues, it would have been difficult for the club to bank on him being available and this move seems like the right decision for all parties involved.

Had the 31-year-old stayed, he would have endured another campaign on the bench, with boss Daniel Farke desperate to bolster his midfield ranks following a number of departures this summer already.

Sam Allardyce made him a key man for the four-game span of his Elland Road management career at the tail end of last season and recommended he be brought back for the Championship.

But that made up only a third of Forshaw’s entire Premier League appearances during the campaign, and the former Brentford man has only made 91 total appearances in his entire five-and-a-half-year stay in West Yorkshire.

A move to Saudi Arabia seems the ideal next step for him and his family given the financial windfall opportunity he’ll receive should he choose to go abroad. Hey may even get a taste of regular action should he sort out his fitness issues as the gruelling nature of the Championship will have been a serious burden for him.

Forshaw gave his all whenever he put on the shirt, and for that alone, he deserves a perfect farewell and send-off.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites could be set to send a proposal to sign a Marcelo Bielsa scholar and Uruguay international left-back