Leeds United confirm Glen Kamara exit as midfielder joins Stade Rennais — YEP 16/7/24
By Kyle Newbould
The midfielder spent less than 12 months at Leeds United.
Leeds United have confirmed the sale of Glen Kamara to Stade
Rennais.
Kamara leaves Elland Road after less than 12 months, having
signed from Rangers in a deal worth between £4-5million last summer. While the
fee is officially undisclosed, the YEP understands Leeds will receive somewhere
in the region of £8m from Rennes, almost doubling their money.
The club had seen Kamara in their plans for next season but,
as with all members of the squad, were open to considering appropriate offers
and will bank a seven-figure profit from the Finland international’s exit.
Kamara is thought to be excited by the prospect of playing in France and
returns to top-flight football, having been unable to achieve promotion under
Daniel Farke.
A club statement read: “Leeds United can confirm Glen Kamara
has joined Stade Rennais in a permanent deal, for an undisclosed fee. The
28-year-old midfielder moved to the Whites last summer from Rangers and was a
regular in the side, making 42 appearances in all competitions in the heart of
midfield.
“A Finland international, Kamara also played regularly for
his nation throughout the 2023/24 season, earning seven more caps, to take his
overall tally to 59. He will now head abroad for the next stage of his career,
joining Rennes who finished their Ligue 1 campaign in 10th place last season.
“Everyone at the club would like to thank Glen for his
efforts both on and off the pitch whilst representing Leeds United and we wish
him well for the future.”
Leeds are now expected to strengthen further in midfield,
with Kamara following Archie Gray out the door this summer. Academy graduate
Gray also spent just one season in the first-team at Elland Road before joining
Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £40m. Jamie Shackleton also turned down
offers of an extension with his boyhood club in search of more regular
football, which he will hope to find at Sheffield United.
Joe Rothwell arrived on a season-long loan from Bournemouth
last week, but it is understood he was brought in to compete with Kamara,
rather than replace him. The former Southampton loanee boasts a more attacking
profile to that of Kamara, or defensive midfield pair Ethan Ampadu and Ilia
Gruev, with Farke keen to improve the goalscoring contributions from that area
of the pitch.
Leeds have also made initial moves to try and sign Sheffield
United right-back Jayden Bogle, with two offers - both believed to be worth £4m
but structured differently - rejected by the Blades, who want closer to £7m. An
ongoing takeover process at Bramall Lane has impacted business somewhat.
Supporters will hope to get a first look at some more senior
players when Leeds face League Two Harrogate Town on Friday evening. On
Tuesday, a youthful outfit beat a Rangers-XI 1-0.