Leeds United confirm Karl Darlow departure after new deal, joins Manchester United as back-up | OneFootball

Leeds United have confirmed goalkeeper Karl Darlow has left at the end of his contract after rejecting a new deal. yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk understands the offer did not include a guarantee of the number one spot, and the 35-year-old has joined Manchester United to provide back-up.

He leaves to pursue a new opportunity and was thanked for his service in West Yorkshire. Darlow joined Daniel Farke’s squad before 2023/24 and debuted in a League Cup win over Shrewsbury Town.

He then featured in the final seven Championship matches of the following campaign, with six victories, as Leeds lifted the second-tier trophy at Plymouth Argyle on the last day of a record-breaking year.

In that same term he made his Wales debut, following his grandfather into international football, starting in a 2-1 win away to Montenegro. He now has 15 caps and has established himself as Cymru’s number one.

Back in the Premier League, Darlow made 22 top-flight appearances and collected April’s Save of the Month for a point-blank stop to deny Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ladislav Krejci.

Across 38 outings he was praised as an exemplary professional who also contributed to Leeds United Foundation work. He played a key part in the 2024/25 Championship title success and then helped secure Premier League survival last term.

Leeds had always planned to recruit another goalkeeper. With Illan Meslier sold to Arsenal and Darlow gone, Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns are Farke’s current options until a new signing arrives.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk