Leeds United have released Laurens De Bock after making seven appearances since joining from Club Brugge, so where are the other players the Whites signed in January 2018 now?
Thomas Christiansen sanctioned a £1.5m transfer for the full-back as one of his final acts in charge at Eland Road. Leeds pushed through a move for the Belgian having tracked him for some time ahead of the winter window, after losing Luke Ayling for the rest of that season.
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Ayling had suffered an ankle injury that required surgery in a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day. The blow heavily depleted the Whites’ ranks, while also sending Cameron Borthwick-Jackson back to Manchester United after struggling to secure minutes.
Leeds release De Bock four years after defender’s final appearance
De Bock would make his Leeds debut 10 days after arriving in West Yorkshire during a 3-4 defeat at home to Millwall. He would also then start the Whites’ following five second-tier games without tasting a single win, whilst seeing Paul Heckingbottom replace Christiansen.
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Heckingbottom would recall De Bock in a 2-2 draw at Reading that March. But the 2018 tie has proven to be the 29-year-old’s final appearance after Leeds released De Bock amid the club’s 2022 retained list. He will leave Elland Road once his contract expires come June 30.
United sent De Bock back to Belgium on a season-long loan at KV Oostende during August 2018. The former U21 international then spent the first half of the 2019/20 campaign with Sunderland, before joining ADO Den Hag that January then Zulte Waregem in the summer.
He has spent the past two years with Zulte Waregem and has featured 62 times across all competitions. The Regenboogstadion natives also handed De Bock the captain’s armband for the 2021/22 season, while he declared last July his intentions to stay there long-term.
So, now Leeds have released De Bock after making seven appearances in four-and-a-half years at Elland Road, where are the other six players United signed in January 2018 now?
Barnsley release Halme three years after Leeds sold January 2018 arrival
Christiansen opened the January 2018 market with Leeds by signing Aapo Halme from HJK Helsinki for £500k. Yet the Finnish defender would only spend a year at Elland Road before joining Barnsley after five appearances in all competitions, with four in the Championship.
The 24-year-old proved a regular in his first season with Barnsley, making 32 appearances in the second-tier. But Halme has only managed 23 appearances over the subsequent two campaigns. So, Barnsley have now decided to release Halme like Leeds have with De Bock.
Leeds brought Ideguchi to England in 2018, now seeing him struggle in Scotland
Leeds brought Japan midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi to England in January 2018 with a raid on J1 League outfit Gamba Osaka. But he immediately headed out of Elland Road and moved to Spain on loan with Leonesa before a spell with German side Greuther Furth in 2018/19.
Gamba Osaka would eventually re-sign Ideguchi from Leeds in August 2019, having never made a single appearance for the Whites. Yet his efforts back in Japan convinced Celtic to swoop this January, for whom he is still yet to score after six appearances for 134 minutes.
Forshaw regained Elland Road importance before latest injury blow
Adam Forshaw joined Leeds from Middlesbrough in January 2018 for £4.5m on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He signed a one-year extension this January to remain at Elland Road through to 2023, with the Whites holding an option to stretch his time at the club to 2024.
United rewarded the midfielder with new terms after regaining an important presence in West Yorkshire this season. Forshaw had missed two years of matches due to a joint injury between his hip and groin and made 22 Premier League outings before fracturing his knee.
Dalby now at Southend United in non-league three years after Leeds exit
Leeds looked to the future in January 2018 and raided Leyton Orient to sign an 18-year-old striker, Sam Dalby. He linked up with the Whites’ U23s, but failed to show enough to merit a senior outing before a loan move to Morecambe in January 2019 and then joining Watford.
The forward remained on the Hornets’ accounts up to July 2021 when he stepped down to the National League. Dalby joined Southend United having played one first-team game for Watford, and would hit nine goals in 43 games this season on route to a 13th-place result.
Roberts still on Elland Road fringes after West Brom switch in 2018
Leeds paid West Brom £2.5m to sign Tyler Roberts in January 2018, but are still waiting for the striker to establish himself. He has featured in 108 first-team fixtures for the Whites so far. Yet the 23-year-old has only managed to start 60 times and has scored just nine goals.
The 19-cap Wales international offered one goal and one assist over his 23 Premier League appearances this season. But over his outings, Roberts only opened the action seven times despite finding the back of the net after starting against Brentford and assisting at Chelsea.
Leeds released De Bock a year after letting Stevens leave for Barrow
Leeds have released De Bock a year after letting fellow January 2018 arrival Jordan Stevens leave Elland Road. The 22-year-old left the Whites to sign for Barrow United in League Two last August, having only managed a total of 79 minutes over his six first-team appearances.
United had previously loaned Stevens to Swindon Town in 2020 and Bradford in 2021 after his arrival from Forest Green Rovers. The midfielder is now showing some of his potential at Holker Street with four goals and two assists over a variety of roles across his 25 games.
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