Aaron Lennon details Leeds deal paying £100,000 per five games at 16 before exit | OneFootball

Aaron Lennon has opened up on the extraordinary terms of his Leeds United deal as a teenager and the circumstances around his departure.

The winger debuted in 2003 at 16, having signed the contract at 14 during financial turmoil at Elland Road.

"It was £5,000 a week, as soon as [I] turned pro, and £10,000 an appearance. The incentives were crazy. It was like every time I played five games, I would get £100k. At that time I signed, I was 14." He was speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s Five podcast.

"My contract was silly looking back. It was crazy numbers and they were thinking 'he won’t play'. But then I started playing. I was on the bench and they couldn’t put me on because I was going to hit one of those appearances."

"I was just sat there and Leeds fans were singing my name. But eventually he [Reid] put me on because it got that bad with the fans singing my name they had to put me on."

Lennon moved to Tottenham in 2005 for £1 million. "I remember at the end of the season Ken Bates told me 'you are done at this club'." He later won the 2008 League Cup with Spurs before retiring in 2022. He now coaches Leeds’ under-18s.

Source: Leeds Live