The bizarre reason Birmingham City and Hull target Joe Gelhardt is called 'Joffy' | OneFootball

Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt is a transfer target for Birmingham City and Hull City, but why is he nicknamed

Joe 'Joffy' Gelhardt has long been regarded as one of Leeds United's brightest academy-era success stories, but his time at Elland Road now appears to be drawing to a close amid interest from Hull City and Birmingham City.

The 24-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and, after struggling to establish himself as a regular starter in West Yorkshire, a permanent exit looks increasingly likely this summer. Interest is already building from both the Championship and Premier League.

With Birmingham City and Hull City among the clubs credited with admiring Gelhardt, he looks set to leave permanently at last. Whether deployed through the middle, just behind a striker or out wide, Gelhardt possesses qualities that make him an attractive option for clubs. His last 18 months with Hull were also excellent.

Why Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt is called Joffy

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While plenty of footballers pick up nicknames in the dressing room, Gelhardt's famous moniker has much more unusual origins. According to The Times, the nickname "Joffy" can be traced back to the 1988 comedy Coming to America.

His uncle, who was also called Joe, was affectionately nicknamed King Jaffe Joffer after Eddie Murphy's character in the film. Over time, a family friend's daughter began calling the younger Joe "Joffy" instead, with the shortened variation simply sticking.

From childhood through to his academy days and eventually into professional football, the name followed the Birmingham transfer target everywhere. Today, many supporters know him as Joffy more readily than Joe, making it one of the more distinctive and memorable nicknames in English football.

It is a nickname rooted entirely in family life rather than football, yet one that has become inseparable from his identity as a player. Hardly anyone refers to him as Gelhardt, with most Wigan Athletic, Leeds, and Hull supporters using Joffy instead.

Gelhardt has shown his versatility throughout his career

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After progressing through the academy at Leeds following his move from Wigan, Gelhardt has gained experience across several levels of English football now. He scored big goals for Leeds at Stamford Bridge and at home to Norwich City, but it has been during loans where he has truly shone.

Loan spells in the Championship at Sunderland and Hull have added valuable senior minutes to his development, while his appearances for Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch demonstrated his ability to influence games in different attacking roles.

Comfortable as a centre-forward coming through the youth ranks, Gelhardt has since developed as more of a second striker or on the right wing. His close control and ability to move from out to in within pockets makes him an adaptable option capable of fitting into a variety of systems.

Birmingham City may offer Gelhardt the best platform despite Hull familiarity

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Hull may hold an obvious advantage through familiarity after Gelhardt spent 18 months on loan at the MKM Stadium, considering he already understands the expectations, staff, and environment there. However, returning to the Tigers may not necessarily represent the best move for his career.

Now back in the Premier League, Hull face a far greater level of competition for places. The 24-year-old is at an age where regular football is crucial, and breaking into a top-flight side consistently could be difficult given the calibre of players likely to be competing alongside him.

While opportunities may arrive, there is every chance they come sporadically rather than allowing him to build the rhythm that has occasionally been missing during his career. Birmingham, by contrast, could provide exactly the fresh start he needs.

Having established themselves in the Championship with ambitious ownership and a clear long-term vision, Blues continue to assemble a young, talented squad capable of competing towards the top end of the division. Gelhardt would have a realistic opportunity to become a key attacking figure and not merely a squad option.

Hull would undoubtedly be a comfortable destination, but comfort is not always what a player needs. At this stage of his career, meaningful minutes may prove far more valuable than familiarity, making Birmingham the move that offers the strongest platform for Gelhardt to reignite his career.