Leeds United wantaways will find it harder to leave on loan this summer after rule change

Loans became the headline of Leeds United’s summer in 2023 as swathes of the relegated squad scrapped to escape England’s second tier. Relegation clauses inserted into numerous contracts allowed these players to leave for free on loan, if their new clubs agreed to pay their wages in full for the season.

The only limitation imposed on those players was the fact only seven of them could leave on international loans if they were over 21. FIFA has slowly but surely been reining in the quantity of international loan exits clubs are allowed to arrange and the quota has dropped again this summer.

Only six players, over the age of 21, will be able to leave Leeds on international loans from July 1. Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca and Max Wober all ran for the continent before the end of July, but there will be far fewer clauses to deal with this summer.

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LeedsLive understands only two players have loan clauses, that render Leeds powerless to stop them if their wages are being paid in full, active this summer. Jack Harrison is understood to be one and Roca has been reported as the other.

Aaronson has already agreed to stay and fight for minutes next season, while Koch agreed his permanent exit in January. That leaves Llorente, Kristensen and Wober as the other returners who may have their eye on leaving again, but this time it will be on United’s terms.

There is, of course, the possibility members of last season’s squad seek exits this summer via the loan door, but these too will only be negotiated on the club’s terms. Should agents be trying to get their clients out of Elland Road this summer, they will have to keep an eye on the number of loans being done because there’s a limit.