Ethan Ampadu played a key role behind-the-scenes in helping Leeds United secure one of their four summer signings.
Despite being just 23 and only joining 12 months ago himself, Ampadu is already one of the key figures in the dressing room at Leeds.
In fact, Ampadu was named as the new club captain ahead of the new season on Tuesday night, having assumed the responsibility on a number of occasions last term in the absence of Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk.
You only have to watch and listen to Leeds’ content across social media to see how well liked he really is by his fellow teammates.
Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto’s reactions to see him on day one of pre-season was brilliant, while Charlie Crew and Struijk are among those to have spoken about him in interviews with the press.
Ampadu shares what he was telling Joe Rodon all summer
Leeds have made four new signings so far this summer, two of them Ampadu knows well from previously in his career.
He played alongside Jayden Bogle at Sheffield United, with Ampadu’s reaction to him first meeting the rest of the squad caught on camera by Leeds’ media team.
But perhaps unsurprisingly, it was the Joe Rodon signing that Ampadu played a key role in pushing over the line following his loan spell from Tottenham last season.
There was almost a month-and-a-half of uncertainty following Leeds’ play-off final defeat to Southampton in May, and Rodon finally signing permanently earlier this month for £10 million.
Speaking in an interview with Leeds Live, Ampadu says he was constantly in the ear of Rodon throughout the summer pushing for him to return to Elland Road, and is glad the saga is now over so Leeds fans can stop asking about his Welsh teammate’s future.
He said: “He will tell you, I was on him a lot. I’m more pleased now Leeds fans can stop asking me ‘Is he coming back?’ I had that quite a bit in the summer and obviously I kept responding I wished, I hoped, but yes, I get on well with Joe, everyone knows that. It was pleasing to see him finally coming back through the doors.
“I like to think [it makes a statement]. I might not have spoken to him if he didn’t return (smiles). We’re all on the same mission. That’s one thing Joe’s very good at. He’s got an idea in his head. He’s got a goal. He won’t tell you the goal, but he’s got a goal and said he wants to work hard.
“There’s not many guys you can find around like that. To have that in the building is amazing. It’s a club, Joe as a player, but everyone, we’re all on that same goal and that same page.”
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Rodon has already shared where he wants to see Ampadu play this season
Due to Struijk’s injury, Rodon and Ampadu were forced to play alongside each other at centre-back in the second half of the season.
For three months, that partnership was practically unbeatable as Leeds won 12 of their opening 13 league matches in 2024.
However, Rodon has already claimed that he wants to see Ampadu back in midfield this season so he can rekindle his partnership with Struijk.
He said: “Pascal, obviously, it was unfortunate for him and how well he had [played], you know, in the first half of the season, but, yeah, of course, Ethan slots into that position easy.
“He is a player that can play in many positions and I think that’s credit to him. Yeah, I think I don’t want to confuse him too much, so I would rather him in the midfield for now, but, yeah, well, we will see what happens.”
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