Hull’s promotion after a 1-0 play-off final win capped the best spell of Joe Gelhardt’s senior career. The Leeds United forward now looks far more settled away from Elland Road than at it.
The 23-year-old delivered 15 goals and four assists during 2025-26 as Hull secured promotion, finally giving Gelhardt the consistent run of games he never received under Daniel Farke at Leeds.
Before joining Hull for his first loan spell in January 2025, Gelhardt had managed just nine Championship minutes under Farke during the first half of 2024-25. He simply never became part of the Leeds manager’s plans despite remaining a hugely popular figure among supporters.
Joe Gelhardt makes telling admission after fine start to life at Hull City😬
Many Leeds fans still remember Gelhardt’s late winner against Norwich City under Jesse Marsch, with Raphinha supplying the assist during a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory at Elland Road.
That moment only strengthened the feeling among supporters that Gelhardt deserved a bigger opportunity than he ultimately received.
Hull instead became the club willing to build around him. The Tigers trusted him as a central attacking figure and were rewarded with the best football of his career during a promotion-winning season.
Joe Gelhardt has made his feelings about Hull perfectly clear
Gelhardt did little to hide where his preference lies heading into the summer transfer window. Speaking after the 1-0 play-off final win over Middlesbrough, Gelhardt told Hull Live he wants a permanent move.
“It’s a good question, isn’t it? Let’s see what happens over the summer, but it’s pretty clear what I want to do. I love this club, I’m buzzing, absolutely buzzing. It shows what can happen in 12 months.
“Under the situations we’ve had, with the embargo, we were always at a disadvantage; everybody had us written off, now we’ve proved everyone wrong, and now we’re off to the Premier League.”
Those comments will only increase speculation surrounding a permanent move after Hull’s remarkable campaign. Gelhardt has spent 18 months at Hull, and it is increasingly difficult to imagine a Leeds return.
Leeds now have a difficult financial and football decision to make
Leeds still hold some leverage because Gelhardt remains under contract until 2027. However, his situation is complicated by reports around his huge wages, which have previously made a permanent exit tricky.
There is also the footballing question. Farke clearly did not trust Gelhardt before sanctioning his initial loan move, yet Hull’s promotion campaign has dramatically strengthened the forward’s reputation.
Leeds must now decide whether they genuinely see a role for him at Elland Road or whether Hull’s success has effectively pushed him toward a permanent exit. It is likely to be the latter, but for how much?
Selling Joe Gelhardt for £3m would see the 49ers make a mistake
That is why reports suggesting Leeds could accept around £3m for Gelhardt feel surprisingly low. Championship attackers producing similar numbers in promotion-chasing sides regularly command significantly higher fees.
What is a fair price for Joe Gelhardt? 💰
Reports say £3m…
Gelhardt is still only 23, has just delivered the most productive season of his career and remains proven at Championship level. Fifteen goals and four assists during a promotion campaign is not the profile of a player whose value should be dropping.
Leeds may ultimately decide that Gelhardt’s future lies elsewhere, particularly after his long absence from the first-team picture under Farke. But if Hull do secure him permanently this summer, Leeds risk looking like a club that gave up on a talented forward just as his career finally accelerated.
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