19 year old Leeds United defender Leo Hjelde has completed a loan move to Championship side Rotherham United until the end of the 2022-23 season.
🤳| A message to the fans from Leo! 🇳🇴#rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud pic.twitter.com/ObFibIyD7C
— Rotherham United (@RotherhamUnited) January 12, 2023
With the signing of Max Wober, along with contract extensions for existing first team defenders, opportunities for Leo Hjelde to clock up some meaningful minutes in the 2022-23 season were hard to envisage.
Speculation of a potential loan exit had emerged over the past couple of weeks, and now the 19 year old has signed for Rotherham for the remainder of the season.
Hjelde signed for Leeds on a permanent contract from Scottish league leaders Celtic in 2021, and became the youngest ever Norwegian footballer to play in the Premier League during the 2021-22 season.
Hjelde is seen as a future talent, so a permanent move away from Elland Road was not likely to be on Leeds’ radar this January.
Rotherham United currently sit in 21st place in the Championship league table, just one point above the relegation zone. Head coach Matt Taylor’s side have the second worst defensive record in English football’s second tier, so it is a good move from the club to bring in some defensive options.
Considering Hjelde is highly rated and Rotherham are seriously struggling at the back, this could be a great opportunity for him to make an impact at a first-team level. He’ll have his work cut out for him in as the season unfolds and the Millers look to avoid finding themselves in a relegation battle.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on Hjelde’s progress over the coming months, and we’ll keep you up-to-date with any news around the young defender.
In other loan news at Elland Road, read about a potential move for 20 year old striker Joe Gelhardt, and developments around Charlie Cresswell’s loan at Millwall.