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Leeds United finalize a club record £35.5m contract to sign Hoffenheim striker Georginio Rutter, with the 20-year-old Frenchman joining on a five-year deal after two days of intense negotiations.
- Confirmation is expected on Thursday after two days of intense negotiations.
- The overall fee has risen to around £35.5m, including bonuses.
- The deal for the 20-year-old Frenchman tops the £27m fee paid by Rodrigo in 2019
- Rutter, who alone cost Hoffenheim £700,000, had hoped to sign a five-year deal
Leeds United were finalizing details about the club’s record signing of Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim on Wednesday.
Official confirmation is expected on Thursday after two days of intense negotiations which brought the total fee to around £35.5m, including bonuses.
The deal for 20-year-old Frenchman Rutter tops the £27m fee Leeds paid for Rodrigo from Valencia in 2019.
Leeds United finalized details of club record signing of Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim
The 20-year-old is eager to join and is expected to sign a five-year deal at Elland Road until 2028.
Rutter, who alone cost Hoffenheim £700,000 from Rennes in 2021, is expected to sign a five-year deal until 2028 once he passes a medical.
Rutter’s representatives traveled to England on Monday night in an attempt to speed up talks on a move that began to take shape late last week.
The France under-21 international has scored two goals in 17 appearances in all competitions this season for Hoffenheim and has an overall record of 11 goals in 64 appearances for the Bundesliga side.
He will fly for the medical once the terms are signed. He sat out training with Hoffenheim on Sunday after interest from Leeds became apparent.
The Elland Road club had taken notice of rival suitors and wanted to ensure they were ahead of the competition, especially after missing out on strikers like Bamba Dieng and Cody Gakpo on deadline day last September.
A striker has been high on Jesse Marsch’s wish list this window and Leeds want to tie Rutter ahead of their rivals.
Particular progress was made in the negotiations on Wednesday afternoon, leading television stations in Germany to declare the deal closed. However, it is understood that there are still some details to be worked out, but a deal is expected.
A striker has been at the top of Jesse Marsch’s wish list this window and while Rutter is not a prolific striker, his high energy, combined with dribbling skills and work rate give him the ideal profile for the team’s squad. leeds.
Rutter would be Leeds’ second acquisition in January, following the signing of Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg for £9.75m last week.
They are also interested in adding two younger players with Birmingham City’s England U19 midfielder George Hall a main target.