Leeds United were not expecting to lose Georginio Rutter in the summer of 2024. The Frenchman seemed keen to stay, and even the player has now indicated the same.
Following their defeat in the playoff final in 2024, Leeds were certain that they would need to sell players to bridge the financial gap of missing out on promotion to the Premier League.
Crysencio Summerville was sold to West Ham, and Archie Gray joined Tottenham Hotspur in a turbulent summer for the club. Rutter was expected to stay on and help Leeds get promoted next season until Brighton triggered the release clause in his contract on deadline day.
Leeds were not expecting the Frenchman to leave, and Rutter has now opened up on what happened on deadline day 2024, when he joined Brighton.
‘I was not ready to leave Leeds United’ – Georginio Rutter
Rutter has conceded that the move to Brighton from Leeds in 2024 came as a surprise, as he was expecting to stay on at Elland Road that season.
He conceded that he was not planning to leave the club on deadline day, and when Brighton triggered the release clause in his contract, he was not ready for the move.
The Frenchman admitted that it was an emotional goodbye to Leeds as it was not something he was expecting to do at that stage of his career.
Rutter said in an interview with the Premier League: “I didn’t expect to leave Leeds, honestly.
“I remember when they called me, my agent called me and said they [Brighton] paid the clause, and I was not ready. I was not ready because it was the last day of the release clause… I was not ready for this.
“After they paid the clause, I said bye-bye to everybody, emotional and after that I arrived in Brighton.”
Rutter won hearts at Leeds after a difficult start
Leeds agreed a deal worth up to £35.5m to sign Rutter in January 2023, in a move that shocked many, as he was still young and unproven at the top level.
The club needed to add more experience to avoid relegation. However, the club gambled on Rutter, and he struggled in his first few months at Elland Road.
| Competition | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | 45 | 6 | 15 |
| Championship Play-Offs | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total (All Competitions) | 51 | 8 | 16 |
Leeds got relegated at the end of the season, and fans were ready to write off the forward as an expensive flop until Daniel Farke transformed him in the Championship.
Rutter scored six times and registered 15 assists in the Championship in the 2023/24 season and became a huge fan-favourite at Elland Road.
He built a real connection with the fans, and his shock departure in 2024 was an emotional one for both the player and the supporters.
