Daniel Farke has already delivered highest praise for 'perfect' Joe Rodon — YEP 2/7/24
By Georgia Goulding
Leeds United have confirmed the sale of Archie Gray and
arrival of Joe Rodon after a double deal with Tottenham Hotspur
Leeds United have finalised the departure of Archie Gray
‘with a heavy heart’, as he has now officially made the move to Tottenham
Hotspur on six-year deal with the Premier League outfit. The highly
sought-after rising talent has been on the radar of multiple clubs this summer
and Spurs have beaten their rivals including Liverpool and Manchester United to
his signature.
Leeds will receive £40 million from Spurs for the sale of
Gray, while Joe Rodon has also headed back to Elland Road in a full-time move.
The Whites have officially announced the permanent signing of the centre-back,
who enjoyed a successful loan spell in West Yorkshire. His move back to Leeds
has cost £10 million, as they club have stressed the two deals between them and
Tottenham are separate.
Daniel Farke will be reunited with Rodon, who featured in
all but two Championship matches last season. The defender played a key role in
Leeds’ push to secure promotion to the Premier League, starting 45 league
games, including all three play-off clashes.
Rodon’s efforts earned him praise in abundance during his
loan spell and he is now set to become a permanent part of the furniture. Farke
was particularly fond of him last season, and had a lot to say about how he
plays and what he brings to Leeds.
"What I like about him is that he has an old-school
attitude, but he’s a perfect role model of a modern defender as well. Because
he is quick and good on the ball and you can defend with him on the high line,”
the German said.
"He also has good body language and leadership and it
is also a topic we have worked on a bit since the beginning of the season. He
has grown more and more into this role and he leads from the backline.
"I am pretty pleased that we have him and it was the
same 30 years ago and it will be the same in 20 years that the first thing you
have to do as a defender is defend really properly. This is what he is doing
and so far, so good and if he goes on in this way, we will all be pretty
happy."
The arrival of Rodon will be a huge boost for Leeds but they
will certainly miss Gray next season as they battle once again for promotion.
Following his departure to Tottenham, the Whites released a heartfelt statement
to acknowledge and thank the 18-year-old for the stamp he has left on the club
in such a short space of time.
