Doncaster Rovers have strengthened their ranks further by bringing Leeds United youngster Charlie Crew back on loan for the 2025/26 season.
Doncaster Rovers started this season’s League One campaign with a home win, beating Exeter City 1-0 on the opening day.
The South Yorkshire side will be looking to build on that win. Manager Grant McCann has strengthened his side through free transfers and the loan market, with seasoned players such as Matty Pearson and Glenn Middleton have arrived from Huddersfield Town and Dundee United respectively.
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However, it is youngster Charlie Crew who could prove to be a shrewd signing for McCann and Rovers after they landed him on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Leeds United.
Who is Charlie Crew?
19-year-old Crew arrives at the Eco-Power Stadium from Premier League side Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers fans will be more than familiar with his abilities as he returns for his second stint with the club.
The young defensive midfielder has risen through the ranks at Elland Road and is highly regarded by both manager Daniel Farke and LUFC fans alike.
His football journey started at Cardiff City, where he featured for the Bluebirds’ youth sides. However, he has been a fixture at Leeds United since the Whites snapped him up in August 2022. Crew became a mainstay of the youth sides at Leeds, making 51 appearances for the U18s and U21s in their respective age groups.
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Crew has gone on to make his senior debut for Leeds United with a four-minute substitute appearance last season in a 3-0 win against Plymouth Argyle. He signed a new, four-year deal last year to tie him to Elland Road until summer 2028.
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Add to this that Leeds United youngster Crew is a full Wales international, after starring at youth level, and it is easy to see that McCann and Doncaster Rovers have more than a decent player at their disposal.
Grantt McCann chase for Crew pays off
Doncaster Rovers boss McCann know that he has a more-than-decent player at his disposal this season. He admits as much, telling the Yorkshire Evening Post that he has been after the young Wales star “*all summer.*”
Speaking on finally landing his man, McCann said “*Charlie can play at this level no problem. He can probably play at the level above at this moment in time.*”
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McCann knows his man, and he is right on his assumptions. Having seen the Cardiff-born youngster across 13 games for Rovers last season, he will have a good idea what Crew is capable of. Ostensibly a defensive-minded midfielder, Crew has been brought up in a Leeds United style of play that focuses on stifling opponents’ midfield play through an intensive press.
This was shown in his performances for Rovers last season, and DRFC fans will get to see his skillset across a full season this time around. Whilst being defensively solid, that is not the whole of what he is about.
How will Doncaster Rovers benefit from Crew move
As per FotMob data, the Leeds United youngster will be a valuable addition to McCann’s Doncaster Rovers midfield options. Looking at his returns on a per 90 basis gives an overview of what his output would be in a regular game, rather than the 821 combined minutes from 13 appearances.
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Crew won 66.7% of the tackles he attempted or 1.75 per 90 minutes. These returns placed him around the top 10% of players per 90 last season in League Two.
As well as these returns, the young midfielder won 5.37 ground duels, 0.55 aerial duels, 0.55 interceptions and 5.81 ball recoveries (only being dribbled past 1.75 times per 90). Totalled up, he made around 14 defensive contributions across a typical 90 minutes.
Charlie Crew’s 2024/25 per 90 stats – via FootMob
Tackles won 1.75
Ground duels 5.37
Aerial duels 0.55
Interceptions 0.55
Ball recoveries 5.81
Dribbles 1.21
Touches 49
Passes 25.5
Long balls 3.41
Yet, his game is much more varied than just a Claude Makelele-style midfield enforcer, there to provide solidity in front of the defensive line.
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He completed 1.21 dribbles per 90 for Doncaster Rovers last season, placing him in the top 20% of players in League Two. He likes to get on the ball, averaging 49 touches per 90. With decent passing accuracy (74.4% from 25.5 passes per 90), he is a player who can put his side on the front foot from defensive situations.
He likes to play a raking pass out of danger once he has the ball, as evidenced by last season’s 3.4 accurate long balls per 90, This placed him in the top 10% of returns for this trait last season. His long-ball accuracy of 63.3% placed him in the top 3% of all League Two players.
doncaster rovers, Doncaster Rovers will reap the benefits of new swoop for ‘level above’ Leeds United youngster: Opinion
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Will Charlie Crew cut it in League One with Doncaster Rovers?
McCann saw enough of Charlie Crew last season in 13 appearances for Doncaster Rovers to want to chase his season-long loan capture. Achieving just that allows DRFC fans to see a very good youngster develop even more with exposure to senior football.
Crew, as mentioned earlier, is highly regarded by the coaching staff at Leeds United. He is also a young player who LUFC fans have a lot of time for.
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There was a tantalising view for Rovers fans last season of just what he will bring to an extended stay for the South Yorkshire side. Defensively strong, good on the ball, able to turn defence into attack, there is little really to fault with Crew.
Farke knows his players; he knows the style of play that he wants from them. The U21s at Elland Road play the same style as the senior squad so that any transition between the two is almost faultless. This is something that DRFC fans will see across this coming campaign, as they will get to see a player with a strong engine, able to harry opponents and turn defensive actions into front-foot attacks.
It isn’t a question of will Crew cut it in League One? Not at all. It is a question of just how well the Leeds United youngster will develop and stand out for McCann and Rovers this season.
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