Robin Koch breaks silence on ‘gut feeling’ Leeds United loan exit this summer, won’t be back at Elland Road
Robin Koch says he fulfilled his “dream” to play in the Premier League at Leeds United but it was “time for me to make a change” and leave this summer.
The on-loan defender told Sports Illustrated Deutschland (28 September) the club “really means a lot” to him still and it “wasn’t an easy decision” to choose Eintracht Frankfurt from his exit options, ultimately trusting a “gut feeling” as he made a season-long loan move that will see out his Elland Road contract.
The German considered moving to another English club, but has now suggested he will be remaining at the Bundesliga side after this campaign once he becomes a free agent.
Koch told SI: “It has always been a dream for me to play in the Premier League and experience English football there – and I have fulfilled this dream.
“In my three years at Leeds United, I have felt very comfortable so far and have developed further as a footballer and as a person. The club really means a lot to me. But it was time for me to make another change in terms of sport.
“I looked into it intensively, I also thought about staying in the Premier League, there were also other inquiries. In the end it wasn’t an easy decision, but as always in my career so far, I trusted my gut feeling.
“Eintracht Frankfurt, with their team and fans, is the right team for me next season. Also against the background of what has been built here in recent years.”
Frustrating end
While a parting of the ways between Koch and Leeds United was potentially inevitable sooner or later it will be a source of frustration that it is set to ultimately come on a free transfer.
The Whites were handing out new contracts to centre-backs last season because they saw the value of the position increasing, including a surprise one to Diego Llorente, but arguably the most saleable of them all in Koch never signed one.
Most defenders at Elland Road have struggled over the past two seasons and the 27-year-old was no exception, but with various clubs interested in him before he chose the Frankfurt move it suggests that Leeds could have seen a decent return if his deal wasn’t up at the end of the current campaign.
Angus Kinnear explained to The Square Ball (7 September) that the raft of cheap loan departures this summer on relegation release clauses were allowed to avoid losing players for below market value.
But while others might see their values climb this year Koch is headed for the exit for nothing either way, so for a player who was a first-team regular in recent years it is a disappointing ending.
It looks like Koch has found the right environment for himself going forward, and Daniel Farke’s defence is now thriving to the tune of four-straight clean sheets anyway, so in practical terms it may have worked out but the club have surely missed on a financial boost along the way.
In other Leeds United news, the club are working to find an exit route for a senior player as Farke has confirmed he only wants “fully focused” options in his squad.