Liverpool’s James Milner left Leeds United for Newcastle United in 2004.
Milner joined Newcastle from Leeds in 2004 for an initial transfer fee reported by FourFourTwo to be worth £3.6 million.
The 32-year-old midfielder started his professional club football career at Leeds and was on the books of the West Yorkshire outfit from 1996 until 2002.
The former England international went on to achieve success at Newcastle before joining Aston Villa.
Milner earned a move to Manchester City in 2010 and switched to Liverpool in 2015, and the Englishman is now a key player in manager Jurgen Klopp’s team.
The 32-year-old told FourFourTwo about joining Newcastle from Leeds: “But then, in 2004, I turned up on the first day of pre-season thinking we were going to discuss a new contract, and someone said: ‘You’re going up to Newcastle for your medical tomorrow’. I was like: ‘Am I?’
“That was tough. It was disappointing that I didn’t get to play for Leeds for longer, but to do it at all was pretty special.”
Milner added: “What little money the club owed me, I gave up to help them, and they got a transfer fee.
“So it was portrayed to me that it was in the best interests of the club [for me to leave] due to all of the financial difficulties. I thought I was going the right thing by the club.”
Back to Leeds United in the future?
Milner is still going strong at 32 years of age, and the former England international can play at the top level for a few more years at least.
However, if Leeds are able to get promoted to the Premier League, then maybe the midfielder – who can also operate as a winger or as a full-back – could be tempted to return to Elland Road.
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