Leeds United have completed the permanent signing of Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur as Archie Gray heads to North London, and Connor Roberts has reacted on Instagram.
Rodon, 26, starred for Leeds last season after joining the club on loan from Tottenham in 2023. The link between Spurs and Leeds grows again, after the addition of Gretar Steinsson in the transfer department.
The deal for Rodon has come about after Tottenham took advantage of Brentford failing to agree the right payment structure for Archie Gray, and Gray having a change of heart and deciding to go to Spurs.
It allowed Leeds to suggest a deal for Rodon in transfer talks for Gray, and Spurs agreed to sell the star back to Elland Road. Gray joins Tottenham for £40m, but Leeds spend a quarter of that on Rodon.
Roberts posts two-word reaction as Rodon joins Leeds
While the loss of teenager Gray is massive and the club have even tried to appease supporters given the emotion of losing the homegrown talent, the return of Rodon is huge in the club’s promotion push.
Rodon was enigmatic in last season’s team under Daniel Farke, combining excellently with whoever was put next to him. A leader in a young Leeds side, even though he was not permanently a Leeds player.
Now, the defender has put pen to paper on a deal until 2028 and Roberts – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Leeds – replied. He commented, after Rodon’s brother did so on the above post.
Leeds were not alone in their pursuit to sign Rodon
Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich had all been linked with a move for Rodon after their promotion to the Premier League. Then on the weekend, reports said that Ipswich had bid £10m but it was rejected.
Spurs giving priority to Leeds in order to aid their own deal and get Gray over the line. It has since come out that Thomas Frank’s Brentford, who missed out on Gray, tried to sign Rodon from Tottenham.
But ultimately, Rodon loved his time at Elland Road last season and chose to stay put this summer instead of joining a club in the Premier League. A huge addition for Leeds and Farke ahead of next season.