Sam Byram departs the Whites — Leedsunited.com 24/8/26

Full-back leaves the club after his contract ended.

Leeds United can confirm defender Sam Byram has left the club after the expiration of his Elland Road contract and joined Sky Bet Championship side Middlesbrough.

A popular member of the squad both on and off the pitch, Byram came through the academy and has represented the club with distinction during two different spells.

Having progressed through the age groups at Thorp Arch, Byram made his debut for his boyhood club in August 2012, becoming a regular in the first team from then on.

That season, he won both the Goal of the Year and Player of the Year awards following a stellar debut campaign at Elland Road.

After stints with West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Norwich City, the versatile defender returned to West Yorkshire in 2023, making 37 appearances across the 2023/24 campaign.

The following season, Byram continued to play an important role in Daniel Farke’s side, featuring 39 times and netting a memorable volley against Luton Town on the way to helping the Whites to a club record 100 points and the Sky Bet Championship title.

Last campaign, Sam’s invaluable experience and Side Before Self spirit has had a real impact in the dressing room, helping United to an impressive mid-table finish on their return to the Premier League.

Behind the scenes, the 32-year-old has never forgotten his roots, taking part in several initiatives with the Leeds United Foundation and maintaining incredibly close ties with the local community.

Across two spells, the full-back has made 224 appearances for Leeds United, scoring 13 goals, won the Goal of the Year and Player of the Year accolades and lifted the Sky Bet Championship trophy, before helping to Whites to achieve Premier League safety with games to spare last season.

Everyone at Leeds United is proud to call Sam one of our own and we wish him nothing but the best for his future career, whilst thanking him for his effort, dedication and professionalism whilst representing the club.

There’s only one Sammy Byram.

Defender’s thoughts as his time at Elland Road draws to a close.

“How to reflect?” Sam Byram smiled as he sat down to think back on his time with his boyhood club. “It has been a roller coaster to be honest, I think from being a kid trying to push my way into the first team and make it as a footballer.

“Having to leave [in 2016] was obviously a really sad time to move away from the club I had grown up at. Then, having the chance to come back, I never thought it was possible. To end the last three years, how it has gone with promotion, staying up in the Premier League and being able to play and train with some really amazing people, I think it has been a hell of a journey and one that I am incredibly proud of and happy to have been a part of.”

Sam broke into the Leeds United first team after impressing in pre-season under boss Neil Warnock ahead of the 2012/13 campaign and took to the professional game with ease, debuting in a League Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town before starring against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the Championship curtain raiser.

The versatile full-back, often marauding up and down the flank as he burst onto the scene, continued to excel, netting a sublime chip in a cup triumph over Oxford United to collect the Goal of the Season accolade. That award was held aloft alongside the Player of the Year title by Byram at the end of that maiden foray into senior football where he had featured 53 times in all competitions for United.

“I think as far as sort of a first season goes, I think you couldn’t ask for any better,” the 32-year-old reminisced. “Like I say, to have been given a chance off the back of being relatively unknown, I think was a surprise to me and my family. Then, to go on and play over 50 games that season and manage to pick up some awards as well, it was just beyond anything I could have imagined!”

After three-and-a-half successful years with the Whites, Byram made the switch to top-flight side West Ham United before spells with Nottingham Forest and Norwich City. During his time at Carrow Road, Sam worked under then-Canaries boss Daniel Farke who, fast forward to 2023, welcomed him back to Elland Road as Leeds plotted a return to the Premier League.

Speaking openly about moving to the Hammers in 2016, the defender said: “It was difficult. I think for everyone involved in the club, it was obviously a really tough time. Looking back as a young kid, I had never imagined leaving or never wanted to leave. I think the circumstances around it and the fact that I had a chance to go and play in the Premier League, it was something at that time I couldn’t say no to.

“I wouldn’t say I regretted it because I met my wife down in London and obviously had an unbelievable experience living in the capital. But, if I had foreseen the sort of the trajectory that Leeds would have gone on, it would have made me question the decision at the time.

“I never expected that chance to come back. Obviously, huge credit and thanks to the manager and his staff for giving me that opportunity. Being able to spend the last three seasons here, they have been probably the best and the happiest part of football that I have had in my career.”

Since returning in the summer of 2023, Byram would go on to play a crucial role on and off the pitch, scoring three goals to help guide the team to promotion and going on to feature in the Premier League last campaign, notably cheered on by a standing ovation against Brighton & Hove Albion towards the end of the term. His pass incidentally played a part in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s dramatic winner over the Seagulls.

As the famous old song says, Leeds United is renowned for its Ups and Downs. That first term back ended in Play-Off heartache at Wembley. The following year, the title was secure. Then, with top-flight status retained on their return to the big time, Sam is thrilled all the hard work behind the scenes paid off.

“I like to think that I came in with optimism and real eagerness. You know, for me it was a huge chance to sign a deal back at Leeds and I like to think that every day in training, every day that I have come into the building, I have brought a positiveness and a happy-go-lucky spirit, just wanting to train and do my best for the club.

“I think that probably rubs off on the group and I hope it has. The last three years, like I say, I think we have built a real strong foundation for players coming in. They can see what it means to be at Leeds and what you need to do, not just to play for Leeds but to be a good person around the building.

“I think obviously growing up around it, it is instilled in me and others that have come through the Academy. I think it takes a lot to play for Leeds. It takes a lot of character, a lot of courage and passion. They are all things that hopefully from me being around the place and trying to sort of educate people on the club, that is something that the fans can see on the pitch and everyone who steps on and puts a shirt on.”