2PA53E9 Leeds United's Jack Harrison (left) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game with team-mate Degnand Gnonto during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture date: Saturday March 11, 2023.
Leeds United have completed the transfer of Karl Darlow from Newcastle United as they strengthen their goalkeeping department ahead of the new season
Goalkeeper Karl Darlow is Leeds United’s second senior arrival of the summer after Newcastle United accepted a £400,000 bid for his services. The 32-year-old has signed a three-year contract at Elland Road after flying back from Newcastle’s USA tour to conclude the deal.
Darlow arrives with Illan Meslier still in the building and no guarantee he will be Daniel Farke’s first-choice stopper next season. The former Nottingham Forest man is coming in fully aware it could be a season-long battle with Meslier for the number one shirt.
The majority of Darlow’s career appearances have been made in the Championship. There were two-and-a-half seasons as Forest’s number one from 2013 to 2015, before getting the lion’s share of the minutes between the sticks with Newcastle as they lifted the title in 2016/17.
Most recently, Darlow was out on loan with Hull City in the second tier last season. He now brings much-needed experience to Elland Road’s goalkeeping department, where Meslier (23), Kristoffer Klaesson (22) and Dani van den Heuvel (20) are currently keeping Ed Wootten busy.
Darlow had two years still to run on his Newcastle contract and some reports had suggested Leeds would need to pay more than £5m to beat off competition and get him out of Tyneside. It transpires Leeds will pay less than half a million pounds for a stopper with Championship title-winning experience.
It remains to be seen what happens with Meslier, who, at the time of writing, had not seen any credible interest registered in his services. The Whites remain open to selling him at the right price, but would be just as happy to see him duke it out with Darlow.
