Joe Gelhardt to join Hull City from Leeds United permanently? New transfer hint dropped | OneFootball

Joe Gelhardt has been at Hull for the past 18 months on loan from Leeds United, and he wants to make that permanent this summer

Joe Gelhardt has experienced the ups and downs of being a Hull City player throughout the last 18 months he has spent on loan with the Tigers.

The 24-year-old was a major part of the Hull side who just scraped survival on the final day of the 2024/25 Championship campaign. Fast-forward a year, and he's been just as integral to the Tigers' promotion into the Premier League.

Gelhardt netted his 20th goal for Sergej Jakirovic's side in the play-off semi-final win over Millwall, and came off the bench to play the final half hour in the final win at Wembley against Middlesbrough.

Throughout his time in East Yorkshire, the versatile attacker has become a clear fan favourite, and it's no surprise that, as the Tigers venture into the top flight, they're hoping that Gelhardt is one of the first permanent deals done this summer.

Joe Gelhardt delivers a massive hint over Hull City future

Gelhardt is currently on loan from fellow Premier League side Leeds United, where he's been a clear afterthought under Daniel Farke ever since the German boss took over at Elland Road in 2023.

He made just three appearances for the Whites in the opening half of 2024/25 before being sent out on loan to Hull, and was allowed to leave again last summer as his parent club prepared for their return to the Premier League.

The 24-year-old is out of contract next summer, so this presents the final chance that Leeds will get to recoup some cash for his services. The only question is where his destination would be.

Speaking to Hull Live, following Hull's play-off final win on Saturday against Middlesbrough, Gelhardt wasn't coy about his desire to remain at the MKM Stadium for the long-term, but admits that anything could happen over the offseason.

"It's a good question, isn't it? Let's see what happens over the summer, but it's pretty clear what I want to do," he said when asked if he'd like to sign a permanent deal with Sergej Jakirovic's side.

On how it felt to bring Hull back to the Premier League after nine seasons away, he added, "I love this club, I'm buzzing, absolutely buzzing.

"It shows what can happen in 12 months. Under the situations we've had, with the embargo, we were always at a disadvantage; everybody had us written off, now we've proved everyone wrong, and now we're off to the Premier League."

Joe Gelhardt's permanent move to Hull City seems a no-brainer this summer

Evidently, Gelhardt would love to remain at Hull for the foreseeable future. He's made more appearances in the last 18 months than he has for any other club, and he'd definitely have a good chance to make a name for himself in the Premier League with the Tigers, too.

The only thing that may have acted as a stumbling block to a permanent deal would have been whether Hull could have packaged the best deal together to sign him if they were a Championship club.

Leeds have reportedly slapped a £3 million price tag on the 24-year-old as he enters the final year of his deal, which, understandably, brought about interest from Rangers, which could be seen as a more attractive destination than the second-tier in England.

But now, with Hull's transfer budget set to be boosted exponentially now they're in the Premier League, plus the prospect of playing in the top flight that they can offer Gelhardt, it seems that, if Sergej Jakirovic wants him to stay, it'll be an easy deal to make.

The Leeds man has been one of the stars of the past year-and-a-half at the MKM Stadium, and a permanent move will be greeted with much happiness across the East Yorkshire club.