Joe Gelhardt’s future at Leeds United is non-existent, but he will at least be spending the 25/26 campaign back at Hull City after an encouraging half-season spell in 2025.

Daniel Farke has shifted out the deadwood in his attack quite drastically this summer with players frozen out of plans to leave just two senior options.

While fans wait for news on incomings, there is progress towards players leaving, including Joe Gelhardt heading back to familiar surroundings.

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Joe Gelhardt loan exit to Hull City imminent after Leeds United fail to garner permanent offers

Gelhardt’s time at Leeds has been a really disappointing non-starter despite his breakout campaign in 21/22, struggling to build on his super-sub impacts under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.

Since then, Farke has had no room for the 23-year-old in his plans and he’s now subject to a second successive loan out to the MKM Stadium and Hull City.

Hull Live revealed that a deal is due to be imminently announced after progress this week, but the forward is unlikely to be registered in time to make his debut when the Championship season kicks off this weekend, meaning an EFL Cup clash against Wrexham might be where his return to the Tigers lineup commences.

Joe Gelhardt fast became a popular figure at Hull City, scoring five on loan from Leeds United and significantly contributing to their narrow survival. (Action Images/Ed Sykes)

However, The Athletic have shared further insight into Leeds’ stance on Gelhardt’s exit, initially insistent they wanted him to secure a permanent exit.

No such acceptable offers came in for the forward, and thus the club’s stance shifted towards allowing him a loan back to Humberside:

“Leeds had initially been against the idea of loaning out Gelhardt, favouring a permanent exit for a forward who seems to have no meaningful future at the club.

“However, the club’s hierarchy reassessed the options on the table yesterday and decided the season away would be best for them and Gelhardt.”

Joe Gelhardt’s Leeds United wages must be extortionate with no permanent offers materialising

At 23, Gelhardt would slot well into a number of Championship squads, as proven by his five goals in half a season in a very poor and injury-ridden Hull side last term.

So for no feasible permanent offers to materialise for him when he’s surplus to requirements at Leeds suggests he’s on wages that EFL clubs simply can’t justify.

It would make sense after his breakout in 2022 that his new long-term deal (until 2027) would come with a drastic wage increase.

Leeds just have to cross their fingers that Gelhardt’s performances in 25/26 warrant clubs looking at a permanent deal, while hoping Hull overturn their current transfer fee restriction.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!