Celtic due windfall as Leeds United transfer news drops on Leo Hjelde

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football correspondent and podcast host with specialist knowledge across the Premier League and SPFL. FOCUS Transfer news, breaking stories, and behind-the-scenes insight across Arsenal, Liverpool, Celtic, and Manchester United. THE INSIGHT Callum utilises a network of club and industry contacts across the Premier League and SPFL to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the depth behind the headlines — from breaking transfer news to behind-the-scenes developments — ensuring fans get the full story as it happens.

Published on:

29 Jan 2024, 8:40 am

Celtic will be due a 15% cut of any fee received by Leeds United after agreeing a £1.5million deal to sell Leo Hjelde to Sunderland, according to James Marshment.

The TEAMtalk journalist reported via his X account on 29 January that his exit now means Daniel Farke is short of options at centre-back and could explore the transfer market as a result.

Hjelde joined Leeds from Celtic in 2021 and the Glasgow giants are now set to pocket £225,000 as a result of this deal, so Leeds will still keep £1.25million of the total fee.

A good deal nonetheless

Regardless of the sell-on fee owed to Celtic as a result of this transfer, Leeds netting £1.25million for a player whose only appearance this season came on the opening day is a good deal for the club.

There had been higher hopes for Hjelde when he arrived from Celtic three years ago, and even more so after his performances in pre-season, which led him to start against Cardiff City on the opening day, but his performance that day was not enough to retain his place.

Now, though, he will have the opportunity to step into a promotion-chasing side in Sunderland who have high hopes for this season after making the playoffs last time out.

With Leo Hjelde on his way to Sunderland, Leeds will net a fee of up to £1.5m, though Celtic are owed a 15% cut.
His exit dwindles Farke's options further, though an arrival of our own, in Ben Godfrey, is reportedly gathering pace.
For @TEAMtalk 👇https://t.co/ySRzPTCLdp
— James Marshment (@marshyleeds) January 29, 2024

The suggestion that Leeds will now need to enter the transfer market may be wide of the mark. While a centre-back may have been on their list anyway, selling somebody with just one appearance so far this season is unlikely to have made a difference to that priority.

In other Leeds United news, a £100million 49ers development has emerged at Elland Road.

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