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Leeds United have a number of first-team and youth-level goalkeepers coming towards the end of their contracts.
Leeds United Under-18s goalkeeper Alex Baird could be on the move in January amid reports he is attracting ‘strong interest’ from several clubs.
Baird turned 18 in August but has been unable to progress beyond Under-18 level at Leeds, with Darryl Ombang and Rory Mahady ahead of him in the pecking order for the Under-21s. Mahady in particular is highly regarded around Thorp Arch as a Scotland U21 international and both have enjoyed brief loan spells further down the football pyramid.
Ombang has turned out for National League North outfit Darlington recently while Mahady is on a youth loan at Scunthorpe United, featuring in their FA Cup first round defeat at League One Blackpool. Baird’s route into the U21s is not currently clear and he could be on the move come January, with journalist Pete O’Rourke reporting on his potential January exit.
In a post on X, O’Rourke wrote: “Alex Baird is attracting strong interest from a host of clubs ahead of the January transfer window. He will be available on a free transfer in January with several sides monitoring his situation closely.”
Baird’s current contract with Leeds expires in June 2026 but as it is not a professional deal, he is allowed to leave before its expiry. The 18-year-old’s two-year scholarship deal expired in May this year but he put pen to paper on a third year alongside Devon Brockie at the time.
Of course, Leeds would be entitled to compensation if Baird were to leave in January while still under the terms of his scholarship deal. That amount can either be agreed between two clubs or through a tribunal, with the Whites owed money for the time and resources put into a player who leaves.
Leeds United contracts expiring in 2026
A number of more senior Leeds goalkeepers face uncertain futures going into next summer too, with three of the four-man first-team group currently set to leave in June. Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns all have contracts which expire in 2026, with £16million summer signing Lucas Perri the only option with long-term security.
Meslier was widely expected to leave ahead of the 2025/26 season after being dropped by Daniel Farke for the Championship promotion run-in. But the 25-year-old has remained part of the squad, even after falling to third-choice following the arrival of Perri.
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Darlow replaced Meslier towards the end of last season and remains ahead of the Frenchman as back-up. The Welsh international got a run of Premier League games under his belt in September and October as well, with Perri out of action due to a quad injury.
Cairns hasn’t made a single competitive appearance since returning to Leeds from Salford City in 2024. The 32-year-old remains a valued part of the goalkeeping group at Thorp Arch, however, and is known to have a positive influence on those ahead of him in the pecking order.
All three could technically start speaking to potential suitors come January, once they have fewer than six months remaining on their Leeds contracts. Those clubs would have to be overseas, however, with the Bosman rule not allowing for discussions with domestic rivals.
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