Leeds United have had some talented players in on loan, but there have been plenty who have not worked out.
Leeds United’s success this season has been helped by the performances of loan centre-backs Kyle Bartley and Pontus Jansson.
With Pablo Hernandez also on loan, the Whites are hoping the trio will follow Liam Bridcutt by signing permanently, after his loan spell last season.
But not all loans at Leeds in recent years have been a success. Here is an XI of players who have left Elland Road with their reputations not exactly enhanced…
GK: Graham Stack
Goalkeeper is the position where Leeds have not had to loan in many stoppers over the years apart from emergency situations. Graham Stack was signed in 2006 by Leeds, with hope that he could compete for a starting spot. The former Arsenal youngster couldn’t manage it, and was part of a squad relegated into League One.
CB: Giuseppe Bellusci
Three summers ago Giuseppe Bellusci was signed on loan by Leeds United. The management staff were so impressed by what they saw early on that they paid £1.6 million to sign him permanently. The error prone Italian would go on to show that this was a mistake, and he is now on loan at Empoli, much to the joy of Leeds supporters.
Leeds’ Giuseppe Bellusci scores an own goal and Middlesbrough’s second
CB: Dario Del Fabro
Del Fabro was another signed in 2014, but he barely got a look in at Leeds. Judged not to be good enough for first team action, he was allowed to return back to Italy, where he now plays for Serie B side Pisa.
CB: Roque Junior
Perhaps the worst of the bunch, Roque Junior arrived at Leeds billed as a World Cup winner after his 2002 exploits for Brazil. He looked like a completely different player, and picked up a red card on his debut. After just five appearances he was sent back to AC Milan, and he retired in 2010.
Leeds United’s Roque Junior
CM: Granddi Ngoyi
Central midfielder Granddi Ngoyi had more injuries than appearances for Leeds when he signed for the club in January 2015, and only made his debut four months later. By this point the decision had already been made not to sign him permanently, and it was no loss.
AM: Jimmy Kebe
Leeds signed Jimmy Kebe on loan from Crystal Palace in 2014, but the move was a flop for all concerned. His debut was in a 6-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, and it did not improve from there. Leeds had an option to make the move permanent, but nobody was keen to pursue this once his deal expired.
Jimmy Kebe – Leeds United and Adam Clayton – Huddersfield Town
AM: Cameron Stewart
Former Manchester United trainee Cameron Stewart had hoped to kickstart his career at Leeds, but it turned into a nightmare for him. He signed at the same time as Kebe, and owner Massimo Cellino personally intervened to cancel a clause he inherited which would have seen the club sign the winger permanently.
AM: Zan Benedicic
Slovenian starlet Benedicic arrived at Leeds with a big reputation as one of AC Milan’s star players. Leeds fans barely saw him, with the prospect making just two appearances all season after his campaign was wrecked by injury. He has not kicked on since, and is currently at Leyton Orient.
FW: Edgar Cani
Albanian striker Edgar Cani was a player who then head coach Neil Redfearn did not want, but got stuck with anyway. The forward looked off the pace and not good enough for Championship football, and he earned only four appearances. His involvement in the ‘sicknote six’ row was the final straw, and he returned back to playing in Serie B.
FW: Liam Dickinson
Liam Dickinson was a desperation signing by Simon Grayson in 2009 from Derby County. The striker played eight games for the club without scoring a goal, and now plays non-league football for Bradford Park Avenue.
FW: Habib Habibou
Habibou was a Neil Warnock signing who had the unenviable task of replacing Luciano Becchio. The striker played only four matches, in which he had a record of no goals and one yellow card. He currently plays in France for Ligue 1 side Rennes.
Mahamadou Habib Habibou of Leeds
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