Leeds United have targeted Ghanaian defender Nathaniel Adjei as they eye defensive reinforcements this January window.
Adjei has been targeted by a whole host of English and Scottish clubs since last summer, however Hammarby are reluctant to sell the player.
Leeds United have been linked with the defender who is valued around £3 million by the Swedish club.
Recently, Hammarby’s sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg came out to publicly say that the club has rejected bids for the young defender because they cannot find replacements for him:
“We have probably received offers for all three [of our players], but we have declined and said that we would like to see them stay in Hammarby,” he said via Fotbollskanalen.
“We have had a fairly open and good dialogue with the players about it too.
“There have been no major oddities.
“Now the season is about to start and if we’re going to sell one of the best goalkeepers in the Swedish league, for example, we need to get paid for it.
“But we must also feel that we have an equivalent replacement on the way and we have not done that.”
Who is Nathaniel Adjei?
Nathaniel Adjei is a 21-year old defender who currently plays for Hammarby IF in Sweden. Adjei is a Ghanaian youth international yet to make his senior team debut. However he has featured for Ghana U20 and recently Ghana U23.
He was part of the side that won the 2021 U20 AFCON tournament; he is highly rated at youth level and was the vice captain for Ghana at Under 17 level.
Adjei has been playing for Hammarby’s first team since 2022 and has scored one goal for the club.
Will Adjei be a good fit at Leeds?
The defender is highly rated in Sweden and has been outstanding for Hammarby this season. He is the typical modern defender: great defensively and very good on the ball.
His stock has risen over the past few months with Hammarby rejecting bids from big clubs recently. Leeds United, Sunderland, and Middlesbrough among a whole host of foreign clubs are keen to sign the player.
With departures looming, Adjei could be a shrewd signing to add to a young vibrant Leeds side.
