Leeds United finalise £35.5m club record deal to sign Georginio Rutter

Leeds United finalise £35.5m club record deal to sign Hoffenheim striker Georginio Rutter – with the 20-year-old Frenchman set to join 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 been pushed to around £35.5million – including bonuses
• Deal for the 20-year-old Frenchman surpasses £27m fee paid for Rodrigo in 2019
• Rutter, who only cost Hoffenheim £700,000, expected to sign five-year contract 

Leeds United were finalising details on the club record signing of Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim on Wednesday.

Official confirmation is expected on Thursday after two days of intense negotiations pushed the overall fee to around £35.5million, including bonuses.

The deal for 20-year-old Frenchman Rutter surpasses the £27m fee Leeds paid for Rodrigo from Valencia in 2019.

Leeds United were finalising details on the club record signing of Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim 

The 20-year-old is keen to join and is expected to sign a five-year contract at Elland Road until 2028

Rutter, who only cost Hoffenheim £700,000 from Rennes in 2021, is expected to sign a five-year contract until 2028 once he passes a medical.

Rutter’s 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 U21 international has scored twice in 17 games 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 in for the medical once terms are signed off. He was left out of training with Hoffenheim on Sunday after Leeds’ interest became apparent. 

The Elland Road club had become aware of rival suitors and wanted to ensure they were ahead of the competition, especially after missing out on strikers such as Bamba Dieng and Cody Gakpo on deadline day last September.

A striker has been top of Jesse Marsch’s wishlist this window and Leeds want to tie Rutter down ahead of rivals

Particular progress in negotiations was made on Wednesday afternoon which prompted TV stations in Germany to declare the deal was done. However, it is understood there are still some details to be ironed out but agreement is expected.

A striker has been top of Jesse Marsch’s wishlist this window and, while Rutter is not a prolific forward, his high energy, combined with dribbling skills and workrate give him the ideal profile for Leeds’ squad template.

Rutter would be Leeds’ second acquisition of January, following on from the £9.75m signing of Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg last week.

They are also keen to add two younger players with Birmingham City’s England U19 midfielder George Hall a prime target.

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