Alfie Hughes has left Leeds United for Premier League rivals Newcastle with his Elland Road contract due to expire at the end of this season, as reported by The Chronicle.
Just eight months ago, Hughes was putting pen to paper on a professional contract at the West Yorkshire giants.
At the time, few would have predicted that a technically-gifted winger snapped up from bitter rivals Manchester United would be packing his bags and heading elsewhere one year later.
But, rather than sign another extension, Hughes has opted to move up north to Newcastle instead.
According to The Chronicle, the teenager has joined Newcastle’s academy and has already made his first appearance in Magpies colours.
He impressed in Monday’s 1-0 victory over Birmingham City’s U23s.
Is Alfie Hughes right to leave Leeds for Newcastle?
It is not certain whether Hughes pushed for a move to Newcastle.
Or whether it was Leeds who decided to bring his time at Thorpe Arch to an end, opting against offering him a new deal with those professional terms expiring in July.
Hughes was born in Stockton, just 40 or so miles south of Tyneside. Perhaps the chance to return to his roots was an opportunity simply too good for the North East-born forward to turn down.
“It’s something everyone works towards. A first professional contract. I’m really happy,” Hughes told Leeds’ official website back in July 2021.
“I’m quite a creative player. I like to get on the ball, make things happen and work hard for the team.
“I want to kick on this year now and get a lot of games under my belt.”
Hughes has played just 31 minutes of football for Leeds U23s across 2021/22. It’s fair to say things haven’t really panned out for the winger since signing professional terms with the Yorkshire giants.
It is not certain whether there remains a pathway for young, homegrown talent to force their way into the first-team picture at Newcastle, however.
Particularly now the newly-minted Magpies have more money than God.
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