Leeds United confirm ninth summer exit since Championship play-off final defeat

A ninth exit since Leeds United’s Championship play-off final has been confirmed with Jamie Shackleton’s rejection of their contract offer. The academy graduate officially became a free agent on Monday, but the door was held ajar to him with a contract offer.

However, the 24-year-old has instead opted to sign a three-year deal with Championship rivals Sheffield United. The Blades were only relegated from the Premier League in May and will present Shackleton with another stern test for regular minutes.

A Leeds statement said: “Having now decided to accept different terms elsewhere, everyone at the club would like to wish Jamie every success for his future and thank him for all the effort he put into representing Leeds United both on and off the pitch. He will always be welcome back at Elland Road.”

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Shackleton first signed with his boyhood club as a seven-year-old and he came through the system to represent the first team on 94 occasions, with 39 starts. Shackleton leaves with more Leeds appearances than the likes of David Hopkin, Alf-Inge Haaland and Chris Wood.

It was Marcelo Bielsa who, notably, gave Shackleton his debut as an 18-year-old. The midfielder was brought on for Mateusz Klich at Pride Park in just the second game of the Bielsa era.

Shackleton would be converted from a midfielder into a right-back, where he ended up making most of his appearances under all his bosses at Elland Road. While he was always popular with his managers, injuries and competition for places never allowed him more than seven league starts in a season.

With his prime years ahead of him, he feels moving away is his best chance of kick-starting his career.