Leeds United have produced several exciting youngsters down the years, but not every starlet has gone on to make an impact at Elland Road.
Leeds United have produced several highly talented youngsters in recent years who have gone on to play at the highest level, but unfortunately, not every starlet has seen their careers go the same way as Charlie Taylor, Lewis Cook and Sam Byram.
With that in mind, here is a look at what has happened to five academy graduates who had moved on to pastures new before their Leeds careers really took off…
Lewis Walters
Lewis Walters is currently at Nottingham Forest but is still awaiting his first-team debut at the City Ground. He did score for the under-23 side in their clash with their Leeds counterparts in January, which would have surely given him plenty of satisfaction.
Ross Killock
Ross Killock was released in the summer, having also failed to earn a first-team bow for the Whites. He joined Chester shortly after but his time with the National League side has been plagued by injury, with just two appearances coming this season.
Alex Cairns
Alex Cairns
Alex Cairns is part of the Fleetwood Town side that is managed by former Leeds boss Uwe Rosler and is flying in League One currently. He previously enjoyed spells at Chesterfield and Rotherham following his departure from Leeds in 2015. His most notable moment for the Whites came when he replaced the calamitous Paul Rachubka during a game that Leeds would go on to lose 5-0 at Elland Road.
Chris Dawson
Chris Dawson arguably enjoyed as bright a debut as any Leeds academy graduate has in recent years when he proved the one shining light to come out of a defeat to Derby in 2013. Unfortunately, he did not progress from there and was released in January 2016. He would subsequently join former Whites boss Neil Redfearn at Rotherham, but is still awaiting his debut for the Millers. He did enjoy a loan spell at Norwegian club Viking earlier in the season.
Dominic Poleon
If any academy graduate is making Leeds rue their decision to let them go, it may perhaps be Dominic Poleon. He has scored eight goals and contributed three assists for League One side Wimbledon, for whom Tom Elliott, another former Leeds youngster, also plays. He was arguably discarded too early by Leeds when he was allowed to join Oldham in 2014.
Dominic Poleon (L)
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