Joe Gelhardt has surely earned fresh Leeds chance with Hull City exploits
There haven’t been many better forwards in the Championship than Hull City’s Joe Gelhardt this season.
Gelhardt first signed for Hull on loan in last season’s January transfer window, spending the second half of the 2024-25 season with the Tigers.
And, after netting five goals in 20 games at the MKM Stadium, Leeds opted to send the versatile attacker back to East Yorkshire in this season’s summer window, this time for the duration of the 2025-26 campaign.
Premier League promotion brought with it a sizeable overhaul of Daniel Farke‘s squad, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, and Gelhardt wasn’t deemed to be ready to play a significant role at Elland Road this term.
Joe Gelhardt has at least earned pre-season Leeds chance
With no option or obligation for Hull to purchase Gelhardt at the end of this season, the 23-year-old will return to Elland Road this summer.
2026-27 is set to be a make or break year for him as a Leeds player too, as he’s currently only contracted with the Whites until the summer of 2027.
This, coupled with his form for Hull this season, is precisely why Leeds have to take a serious look at Gelhardt over the course of pre-season at the very least.
With 10 goals and three assists to his name from 24 Championship appearances for Hull, the Leeds academy graduate looks to have taken real strides towards improving his game this year
The very last thing Leeds will want to do is overlook the young forward, moving him on, and then seeing him continue to tear it up for someone else.
So, whilst he’s never been able to really perform on a consistent basis for Leeds in the past, that is exactly what that is, the past, and right now, Gelhardt looks a far more mature and refined player.
Gelhardt could offer Leeds more than what others are giving them
Leeds’ wide options appear to need a refresh in the summer.
Dan James has made just 13 appearances in all competitions this season, and has failed to provide a single goal contribution either.
Meanwhile, Wilfried Gnonto has also been disappointing this term, with just one goal and two assists from 17 total appearances, and could be another that’s moved on from at the end of the season.
Surely then, Gelhardt would have a great chance of offering more to Leeds production-wise than those two, and at the very least, could be an important piece of depth if there is some exits to the forward line this summer.
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