It never happened for Jay-Roy Grot at Leeds United having joined the club back in the summer of 2017. Officially, the Dutchman spent three and a half years on the books at Elland Road – so, where is he now?
Coming through the ranks at Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen, the Netherlands U21 man scored six goals in 35 senior outings. It saw Victor Orta, in his first summer, lure Grot to Leeds for a fee of around £1.5m.
He scored just one goal in 22 games for Leeds during the 2017-18 season. He was even booed during his time in a Leeds shirt, and looked like a rabbit in the headlights, frankly. Nowhere near good enough.
It saw him go on loan to VVV-Venlo. Six goals and three assists in 34 did not convince Marcelo Bielsa to hand him a second chance, and he went on loan again in 2019, to Vitesse Arnhem. Two goals in 25.
Eventually, he left in January 2021 – to join German side Osnabruck. Four games. His career at this stage was in complete disarray. But – he chanced on a trip to Denmark. Viborg made a move for the attacker.
All the glimpses he had shown at leeds – like his goal in Myanmar, or his form at Venlo – was realised at Danish side Viborg. Clocking up 50 games in 18 months, he scored 15 goals for the top-tier side.
Where is Jay-Roy Grot now, after his failed spell at Leeds United?
Earlier this summer, Grot chose to move again. His stock restored somewhat, he moved to Japan. The Japanese J-League side Kashiwa Reysol signed the Dutchman – and he has since scored three in 21.
Still adapting, he has a contract until January 2026 after a £1.5m move. So for now – Grot seems settled. But there is no washing the fact he has gone from joining Leeds in 2017, to Japan, in less than six years.
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