Sunderland completed the signing of Leadbitter from Middlesbrough.
Jonathan Woodgate has sent a heartfelt message to Grant Leadbitter after the midfielder left Middlesbrough to return to Sunderland – a decade after leaving Sunderland to join Ipswich in 2009.
Leadbitter, 33, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with his boyhood club, after managing just 10 appearances in all competitions for Middlesbrough this season.
Boro completed the surprise signing of John Obi Mikel on a free transfer, after the Nigerian’s contract with Chinese Super League side Tianjin TEDA expired. It pushed Leadbitter further down the pecking order.
Leadbitter opted to return to the Stadium of Light, and Woodgate – who played for Middlesbrough before becoming a coach at the Riverside – sent a heartfelt message to his ex-teammate on Instagram.
Leadbitter played 119 times for Sunderland before leaving to join Ipswich in 2009. He made the surprise decision to join Boro three years later, and has remained at the Riverside ever since.
The tough-tackling midfielder is now available for selection and could make his first appearance for the Black Cats in his second spell at the club on Saturday, as Jack Ross’ side host AFC Wimbledon.
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