Frenchman on the move
This article first appeared on January 7 and has been updated with new information
Hoffenheim forward Georginio Rutter is set to complete a move to Leeds United in the coming days, according to Transfermarkt. As first reported by Sky Sports, the French talent has been courted by the Premier League side for some time and will likely make the move to England in a deal worth €37 million initially, plus add-ons that can see the transfer grow to around €40m. Leeds United confirmed the record transfer on Saturday night in a social media post.
The Elland Road side’s most expensive transfer to date stands at €32.9m, when Brenden Aaronson made the move from RB Salzburg earlier this season. Upon completing the signing of Rutter in the January transfer window, Leeds will almost certainly set a new transfer record and take their spending for the current campaign to over €140m on new players.
Fowler, Aaronson & Co. – Leeds United‘s record signings
The 20-year-old’s sale will also set records at Hoffenheim, who have grown accustomed to selling key players for top fees to English clubs. Although Rutter’s deal will be unlikely to match the €44m the Bundesliga side earned from Joelinton’s move to Newcastle in 2019 or Roberto Firmino’s €41m move to Liverpool, it could end up coming in third in the club’s highest transfer fee received for a single player.
Georginio Rutter to Leeds? – Improved market value from €1.5m to €16m
Rutter made the move to Hoffenheim in 2021 when he was signed from Stade Rennais for no more than €750,000. In that time the young forward has impressed in the Bundesliga and seen his market value increase from €1.5m to where it currently stands at €16m. In that time, Rutter has made 64 appearances for Hoffenheim, bagging 11 goals and eight assists. In January of last year the French U21 international signed a contract extension with the German club, extending his deal to the summer of 2026. “He is one of the most promising talents in European football, whose further development the move to Hoffenheim gave a strong boost,” said Hoffenheim manager Alexander Rosen at the time.
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