Joe Gelhardt has left Leeds United and joined Hull City on loan for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
It’s been a busy Saturday morning for Leeds United ahead of their final pre-season friendly with AC Milan in Dublin, as two of Daniel Farke’s strikers have left the club on loan.
Mateo Joseph was the first to have his exit confirmed, with the Spanish forward returning to his homeland to join Mallorca after agitating for a move all summer.
Then it was announced that Joe Gelhardt has returned to Hull City for the forthcoming season.
Gelhardt spent the latter half of the 2024-25 campaign at Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals and clearly made a strong impression with his five goals in 20 appearances.
Fellow 49ers side Rangers wanted to sign Gelhardt, but it’s now become clear they stood no chance of signing him as he has revealed he was desperate to return to Hull.
Photo by George Wood/Getty ImagesJoe Gelhardt only wanted Hull City return in summer transfer window
Gelhardt told Hull’s official website upon the announcement of his return: “It feels amazing. I made it clear I wanted to come back here.
“I loved my time here last year – everyone was so welcoming and friendly. It’s a great club to be at, and the lads have spoken very highly of the new manager.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
“The people here, the city, the fans – everything about last season was just the perfect match. I was probably the happiest I’ve been in my football career during the last few months I spent here last year.
“It’s a season-long loan this time, so being in from the start and having a whole year with the lads is going to be better than three or four months.
“We know we can do a lot better than last season. With the new signings, we’ve got a lot of quality in the team.
“I was back with Leeds for pre-season and played a few games – 45, 60 and 90 minutes, so I’m feeling fitter than I’ve ever been.
“Thanks to the fans for the support from last year. I’m made up to be back and the fans played a big part in that.”
“I made it clear that I wanted to come back here” 💬 #hcafc
— Hull City (@HullCity) August 9, 2025
View Tweet
Will Joe Gelhardt play for Leeds United again?
Given Gelhardt was admittedly happier at Hull than he ever has been since joining Leeds in 2020, it’s looking unlikely that he will play for the Whites again.
The 23-year-old arrived with a lot of potential from Wigan Athletic but has never managed to truly realise it at Elland Road, despite being hyped up by Marcelo Beilsa, scoring just three goals in 57 appearances.
Farke didn’t trust him to start in the Championship so he clearly wasn’t going to factor into the manager’s plans in the Premier League, especially when even Patrick Bamford isn’t.
Gelhardt’s contract with Leeds doesn’t expire in 2027, so there is still a chance he could have a strong season on Humberside and be welcomed into the squad, like Brenden Aaronson was last year, but it seems unlikely.