Leeds to seal record £35.5m Rutter deal

LEEDS UNITED were last night finalising details on the club record signing of Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim. Official confirmation is expected today after two days of intense negotiations pushed the fee to £35.5million, including bonuses. The deal for 20-year-old Rutter surpasses the £27m Leeds paid to sign Rodrigo from Valencia in 2019. Rutter, who only cost Hoffenheim £700,000 from Rennes in 2021, is expected to sign a five-year contract once he passes a medical.

His representatives travelled to England on Monday night in an attempt to accelerate talks on a move, which began to take shape at the end of last week. The France Under 21 international has scored twice in 17 appearances this season and has an overall record of 11 goals in 64 games for the Germans. He was left out of training on Sunday after Leeds’ interest became apparent. Progress in negotiations was made yesterday afternoon, prompting TV stations in Germany to declare the deal was done. However, there are still some details to be ironed out, but agreement is expected. A striker has been top of Leeds manager Jesse Marsch’s wishlist and while Rutter is not a prolific goalscorer, his energy, dribbling skills and work-rate give him the ideal profile for Leeds’ squad. Rutter would be their second acquisition of January following the £9.75m signing of Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg. They are also keen on Birmingham’s England Under 19 midfielder George Hall.