Second Leeds United exit confirmed with new deal after 'higher up' rejection and clear Farke verdict — Leeds Live 20/6/24
Lewis Bate has signed a three-year contract with Stockport County in League One with his Leeds United contract expiring on June 30
Outgoing Leeds United midfielder Lewis Bate has secured his
future with a three-year contract agreed at League Two champions Stockport
County. The 21-year-old’s contract at Elland Road will expire at the end of
this month, after a three-year stay, and he has found a permanent new home in
League One.
The Hatters have been on a meteoric rise in recent years.
Dave Challinor’s side won National League North, in the sixth tier, just five
years ago, but will enter the third tier for the first time since 2010 from
August.
Bate’s exit was confirmed with the publication of United’s
recent retained list. The former Chelsea youth departs West Yorkshire with five
first-team appearances to his name and one precious Premier League start.
Jesse Marsch gave Bate his full top-flight debut in an
Elland Road clash against Chelsea, ironically, as they fought against
relegation in 2022. Bate was briefly involved under Daniel Farke last August,
but failed to make the grade and went to Milton Keynes Dons on loan from
January.
Challinor said: “Lewis is a player we attempted to sign in
January, but it wasn’t to be. From that point, we’ve kept an eye on his
situation and when we knew he was being released by Leeds, we immediately
renewed our interest.
"We’ve had to be really patient as there was interest
in Lewis from higher up, but thankfully our patience has been rewarded. For
some time now, we’ve felt that our biggest evolution as a team would come from
a ball-playing midfielder who will not only receive the ball in tight areas,
but manipulate space and play forward, as well as drive forward when the
opportunity presents itself.
“Lewis is fantastic at all of these things and will be of
huge importance to our development. Personally, for him, playing in the Premier
League and Championship is where he wants to get back to and we really feel he
has every opportunity for that to be the case.”
