Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt has had an impressive start to life back at Hull City, following his initial loan in January to finish the 2024/25 season.
Joe Gelhardt will be in the final year of his Leeds United contract when he returns from his second spell at the MKM Stadium with Hull City this summer.
Gelhardt spent the latter half of the 2024/25 campaign with Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals. It wasn’t a guarantee that he would join Hull, either. That’s because they had to win the race as there was talk of Gelhardt going to Rangers at one stage.
Talk of a move to Scotland was then swiftly revealed as untrue at the Rangers end regarding Gelhardt. There was also late interest as Middlesbrough made a move for Gelhardt prior to him deciding to join Hull on another loan.
Joe Gelhardt’s Hull City award after Leeds loan
The versatile attacker can operate in a number of forward roles. He can be utilised as a centre-forward, but also in a more withdrawn second-striker role, and as a winger on both flanks.
It gives Gelhardt flexibility and makes him a useful player to have, with Sergej Jakirovic moving him around the pitch already this season.
Gelhardt hinted at leaving Leeds for regular first-team football this summer. Leeds’ loanee is delighted to return to Hull and the majority of Leeds fans are wishing the best for Gelhardt at the MKM Stadium.
Ali Maxwell believes this is Gelhardt’s season with Hull to be one of the outstanding players in the Championship. It’s already clear that he’s impressing for Hull early on this season, too.
Gelhardt has won the club’s Player of the Month for August, having contributed to three goals and assists in five games in all competitions immediately after re-joining from Leeds.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 11 |  SwanseaSwansea | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| 12 |  PortsmouthPortsmouth | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 8 |
| 13 |  CharltonCharlton | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 8 |
| 14 |  Hull CityHull City | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 8 |
| 15 |  NorwichNorwich | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| 16 |  WrexhamWrexham | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 7 |
| 17 |  IpswichIpswich | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
He has yet to register one in September but the 23-year-old has eight goal involvements in 27 Hull games thus far across the two separate loan stints. His side have been inconsistent as well, with equal wins, draws, and defeats.
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Sergej Jakirovic on Gelhardt at Hull City
Given Gelhardt was admittedly happier at Hull than he ever has been since joining Leeds in 2020, it’s looking unlikely that he will play for the Whites again.
Leeds splashed out £1 million on Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic, hoping he would reach his full potential at Elland Road. But Hull were desperate to bring Gelhardt back for the new season and it made sense for all parties.
After completing the deal, Tigers boss Jakirovic spoke on Gelhardt and said: “He was my vision.
“I asked so many times about him because, in our situation with the embargo and everything else, he wanted to come to us. We need such a player, and there’s no adaptation time.
“The group likes him, and he knows our environment as well, so this is a very, very good choice for us.”
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