LEEDS UNITED COMPLETE JOE ROTHWELL DEAL — Leedsunited.com 11/7/24
Leeds United are delighted to confirm the arrival of Joe Rothwell, who has signed on a season-long loan deal from AFC Bournemouth.
The 29-year-old versatile midfielder brings a wealth of
experience to the Whites, having played regularly at both Sky Bet Championship
and Premier League level.
During the 2023/24 campaign, Rothwell spent the first half
of the campaign playing top-flight football with the Cherries, before then
heading out on loan to fellow South Coast side Southampton.
Whilst with the Saints, he made 20 appearances and scored
four goals, contributing towards the team ultimately gaining promotion back to
the Premier League at the first attempt.
Rothwell’s eye for goal from midfield saw him win the club’s
2023/24 Goal of the Season Award after a stunning volley which found the top
corner against Huddersfield Town. That strike also won the Sky Bet Championship
Goal of the Month for February.
Elsewhere in his career, our newest signing has gained
plenty of football league experience, having played over 150 times for
Blackburn Rovers in a journey that has seen him make over 300 appearances.
The midfielder has also been recognised earlier in his
playing days at international level too, representing England throughout the
Under-16 to Under-20 age groups.
Everyone at Leeds United welcomes Joe to the club, who
becomes the third arrival of the summer, after Joe Rodon and Alex Cairns.
Joe Rothwell became Leeds United's third signing in the 2024
summer transfer window, after joining on a permanent deal from Premier League
side Bournemouth.
We take a look back at Joe Rothwell's career so far, after
the midfielder signed for Leeds United today.
THREE LIONS ON THE SHIRT
Whilst working his way through an academy on the other side
of the Pennines, Rothwell would represent England at U16, U17, U19 and U20
level.
Rothwell made his international debut for the U16s in a 2-1
win over Scotland, playing in a midfield alongside Diego Poyet, son of former
Leeds United assistant manager, Gus Poyet.
Winning the 2014 Four Nations tournament, the midfielder
played in all three of the Young Lions' games, helping to defeat Germany and
the Netherlands along the way.
LINING UP FOR THE TANGERINES
On 27th January 2015, Rothwell joined Blackpool, then in
last place in the Championship, on loan for the remainder of the season.
The midfielder would make his senior professional debut not
long after, replacing Mark Waddington at half-time in the Tangerine's defeat to
Norwich City. A further two appearances would see him face Blackburn and
Brentford.
Another loan would follow in the summer of 2015, when
Rothwell would make the short trip up to South Yorkshire, where he would play
seven times for Barnsley, including an appearance in the Football League
Trophy, which the Tykes would go onto win.
ON SONG FOR THE U'S
After rejecting a contract extension with the club on the
other side of the Pennines, Rothwell signed a two year deal with League Two
side Oxford United in July 2016.
After the move, Rothwell would score his first senior goal
in an FA Cup second-round replay against Macclesfield Town on 13 December 2016,
a game which Oxford won 3–0.
Goals against Bury, Gillingham, Bradford, Peterborough,
Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury and Stevenage would follow, as he made 86
appearances over two seasons for the U's.
JOE OF THE ROVERS
The summer of 2018 saw Rothwell make a move to Championship
side Blackburn Rovers, where he would spend four seasons, playing 161 games,
scoring 11 times and producing 18 assists.
A mainstay in the side under Tony Mowbray, Rothwell repaid
Rovers with key goals against Derby, Nottingham Forest, West Brom and Yorkshire
sides Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Middlesbrough.
During his time at Ewood Park, Rothwell would help the newly
promoted side to 15th, 11th, 15th and 8th position finishes, before getting his
dream move to a Premier League side.
A CHERRY AND SAINT
2022 saw Rothwell take another step up, leaving Blackburn
for Scott Parker's Bournemouth, who had just been promoted back to the Premier
League.
Making his debut against Southampton at the Vitality Stadium
in October, he'd go onto play 35 times for the Cherries, including twice
against Leeds, scoring against Stoke City in the EFL Cup.
In January 2024, Rothwell joined Southampton on loan for the
remainder of the season, helping them secure promotion to the Premier League.
During his time with the Saints, the midfielder featured 20
times, scoring four times, including a stunning strike against Huddersfield,
which would earn him the EFL's Championship Goal of the Month award.
On the 11th July 2024, Joe joined the Whites on a season
long loan, saying "Leeds doesn't need selling to anyone, it shouldn't be
in the Championship, it's a Premier League club.
"As soon as I heard of the interest, I was desperate to
make it happen. It's a team, I'm really excited to be part of."
Leeds United’s latest addition, Joe Rothwell spoke
exclusively to LUTV after completing a deal to join the Whites.
Rothwell spoke of his desire to move to Elland Road and
insisted there is only one thought on his mind.
“It’s unbelievable, as soon as I heard of the interest, it
was something I was desperate to make happen and thankfully we’ve managed to do
it quite quickly, so I can’t wait to get going now.
“I don’t think Leeds United needs selling to anyone to be
honest, it is a huge football club.
“The club were a bit unlucky last year, but the aim is one
thing and that is to get back to the Premier League, so I want to come here,
add a bit of experience and help the team do that.
“When you think of Leeds, you think of the fans and I’ve had
a few experiences of playing at Elland Road before and it’s the first time I’ve
felt a stadium vibrate before when a goal went in, so it will be nice to be on
the right side of the fans this time, instead of the wrong side.
“I had a good few conversations with the manager, he spoke
so highly of the place and what brought him here and that made me want to come
even more and there is only one aim this season and that is to get back to the
Premier League.”
Rothwell also spoke about his own game and what supporters
can expect to see.
He said: “I like to pick the ball up from deeper and drive
with the ball, that is one of the main qualities I possess and has served me
well throughout my career and it is something I will try to emulate here and
hopefully the fans will enjoy that as well.
“I’ve got a good four or five weeks now to get in and around
the lads, get to know them and we can kick on and start the season.”