Back in August, Leeds United were rocked by the £40million exit of Georginio Rutter to Brighton, but promotion back to the Premier League means the deal worked out in the end for everyone.
Georginio Rutter’s sobbing on the Wembley pitch after playoff final defeat showed how much playing for Leeds meant to the Frenchman, as much as it meant getting to the Premier League again too.
However, as it transpired, it wouldn’t be long before he was in the top flight anyway as Brighton triggered a £40million release clause in his contract, which the forward was desperate to pursue and switch Elland Road for Premier League football at the AMEX.
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Georginio Rutter makes Leeds United, Brighton transfer admission after successful first year at Seagulls
It’s not the first time that Rutter has seen himself the subject of a Premier League club’s record signing, having joined Leeds for £36million back in the January 2023 window under Jesse Marsch.
(Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)
You could see the pressure weighing down on Rutter through that first half-season at Elland Road, even though three managers he worked under – Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce – routinely overlooked him despite looking bright in his cameos and Leeds spending a lot of money on him.
Allardyce notably stated that he thought the Frenchman was “not good enough” for the relegation scrap as opposed to someone he could have called upon in his final four games of the season, only for him to register an assist in the final game of Allardyce’s short-lived and forgettable tenure.
His season under Daniel Farke outlined his talent and creative power in an attacking midfield role, proving to be one of the key driving forces behind a 90-point season where Leeds somehow fell short of promotion, and he was off in the following August when Brighton caught wind of his release clause.
Rutter’s form at the Seagulls has been impressive, ending his first campaign with eight goals and four assists in all competitions, winning his newest fans over not only with his ability on the ball, but also his infectious personality that was so popular at Elland Road.
In moving to Brighton, Rutter feels he’s been able to handle the pressure of heading into the top flight again, having been thrust into a high-pressure environment at Leeds:
“When you play for Leeds there is a big pressure to win every game and you have to give them (the fans) something back,” he told Brighton’s website.
“So when I came here, I was more ready and able to carry on that mentality. It helped me a lot having already played for a big club and having gone there for a big fee.
“My first season there was not great, but the second season was much better. I felt freer given my form had turned around, and I have been able to continue that way since I came here.”
All’s well that ends well, Leeds are promoted as champions and Rutter is thriving elsewhere
It was a grim transfer sucker-punch to cope with only a few weeks before the window shut, but you have a Premier League player, and those clubs will want to sign him.
However, we reinvested it and looked an incredibly balanced side under Farke in season two, allowing us to dominate the Championship even more and win the title.
It would have been brilliant for us to get into the top flight with another player readymade for the division in Rutter, but his money helped us get there in the first place.
A reunion next season is obviously on with Leeds facing Brighton home and away, and it’ll be interesting to see what reception he gets.