{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Sam Byram rejected foreign offers to return to Leeds United this summer
Sam Byram has revealed that he rejected offers from foreign clubs to return to Leeds United and Elland Road this past summer.
The full-back left Norwich at the end of his contract this summer and returned to Leeds on trial before eventually signing a 12-month deal to come back after seven years away.
And while speaking to the club’s official podcast (11 October) he revealed that he had several offers, including some from abroad, before Leeds stepped up their interest and he chose to return to Yorkshire.
“There was definitely no guarantee,” he said. “I’d come off the back off not the best injury situation at Norwich, I was a free agent and I’d not heard a lot to be fair.
“There were a few clubs interested, a couple of options abroad, I was just waiting to hear what the next step was.
“I had done a lot of fitness work and extra training over the summer so I felt like I was in a good position fitness-wise and I got a message off the boss and his staff, saying ‘you’re a free agent, you know the club and we’ve worked together before, do you want to come and train with us?’”
Shrewd
With so many players leaving Elland Road this summer, especially in defensive areas, our recruitment was super important to get right and Daniel Farke has done that.
He brought in Joe Rodon on loan alongside Djed Spence, while Charlie Cresswell was given a new contract to tie him down for the long-term and Byram arrived on a free transfer.
Rodon has become a key member of the starting lineup in the centre of defence and Spence is almost certain to be first-choice right-back once he recovers from injury. But Byram has become very important too.
Able to play at both left-back and right-back he has featured regularly when fit and available and his drive, experience and reliability has been a big reason behind our successful start to the season.
It’s only a short-term contract but if he continues with this form over the rest of the season then there is no reason that he couldn’t get a longer deal that extends beyond the summer. He’s clearly happy to be here, and we’re happy to have him.
In other Leeds news, ‘Huge’ Farke decision spells ‘Bad’ news for Whites star after win v Bristol City.