The Leeds United loanee, who has not played for the Whites since October 2024, is in fine form
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
10:37, 03 Apr 2026
Joe Gelhardt is on a season-long loan at Hull City
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Joe Gelhardt is on a season-long loan at Hull City(Image: Tony King/Getty Images)
Joe Gelhardt says he would be willing to sign on for Hull City next season having enjoyed the best campaign of his career in East Yorkshire.
The Leeds United loanee has registered 13 goals and six assists for the Tigers this term, having initially also spent the second half of last season at the Championship club.
Gelhardt was not part of Daniel Farke’s plans for this season and Leeds had initially looked to sell the striker in the summer before it was determined that a loan back to Hull was the best course of action.
Despite his good form over the first half of the season, United had no plans to recall the 23-year-old in January. They are pleased with his progress. Prior to his calf injury that kept him out from mid December to January, Gelhardt had recorded eight goals and two assists in 10 Championship games.
Since returning, he has grabbed three goals and two assists in 13 league matches, including two strikes in his last four outings. Speaking to Hull Live, Gelhardt said he is enjoying the best period in his career and was asked whether he would sign a deal if it was offered.
"It'd be stupid to say no because I've played my best year of football here; it's obviously more difficult than just making a decision, but yeah, pretty much,” he said.
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"At the minute, yeah. I'm enjoying it that much, yeah, I love playing for this club. Nothing is certain in football, and things change, but we can only take it game by game. I think everyone knows how much I love it here.
"In football, you're never certain, so many things can happen so quickly. As footballers, you've got to get used to the unknown, and I definitely am.
"Things happen quickly, and let's see what happens."
Hull owner Acun Ilicali and sporting director Jared Dublin have both publicly stated their desire to acquire Gelhardt longer-term, having been unable to do so this season due to transfer restrictions. The club cannot sign anyone for cash until after June 30.
Leeds’ sale stance will inevitably be impacted by what division they play in next season but if the Whites do stay in the Premier League, it seems likely Gelhardt - who will only have 12 months left on his United contract this summer - will not be part of first-team plans.
"I haven't spoken to anyone from Leeds since the start of the season," Gelhardt confirmed. "I don't know if my agent has. He hasn't told me if he has.
“I'm sure the clubs speak, I'm sure they have to, but yeah, not from my side, I think they've just let me focus on playing, which I don't mind, to be fair. That's my job, isn't it, so that's all I'm here to do.
“Since I went back to Leeds in pre-season, I knew that once I wasn't in their plans, I wanted to come back here. Over the summer, I knew I wanted to come back here, so once that (2025/26 Leeds plans) was confirmed, it made it a bit easier to come back here.
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“I think I made the correct decision coming back. It has been the best season so far in my career, and I've found my best form, so it was the right decision, and I'm buzzing with that."