Ex-Leeds United defender suffers nightmare debut as six-month injury layoff expected

A former Leeds United defender who left Elland Road two years ago has reportedly suffered a serious injury on debut in Belgium.

Leo Hjelde spent two-and-a-half years at Leeds, playing eight games across all competitions - two of which came in the Premier League. The defender left Elland Road for Sunderland in January 2024 after the agreement of a fee worth around £1.5million.

In two-and-a-half years at the Stadium of Light, however, Hjelde struggled to make a regular impact and after a brief loan spell at Sheffield United, waved another permanent goodbye. He left the Black Cats for Belgian outfit Mechelen last week.

The Norwegian signed a three-year contract in Belgium but a cruel twist of fate has seen him suffer a serious injury on his debut. Hjelde started Mechelen’s 3-3 Belgian Pro League draw at home to Standard Liege on Sunday but was stretchered off after 38 minutes.

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According to Sunderland Echo reporter James Copley on X, Hjelde suffered a patellar tendon tear and is expected to be out for at least six months. The injury marks a nightmare debut for the 22-year-old, who is now set for a long period of rehabilitation with Belgian outlet GVA reporting he will undergo surgery in the coming days.

Hjelde has struggled to get his career going either side of that two-year stint with Leeds. The defender joined the Whites from Celtic having failed to make a first-team appearance for the Scottish side, his only senior experience coming during a loan spell at Ross County.

Leeds sent Hjelde on loan to Rotherham United in the Championship during their own Premier League relegation campaign in 2022/23. The full-back played 13 games for the Millers before joining Sunderland the following year.

Hjelde managed to reach double figures for Championship appearances during his first two years at the Stadium of Light, playing 17 times during the 2024/25 campaign in which the Black Cats won promotion via the play-offs. But he didn’t make a single appearance last season after undergoing surgery on an Achilles tendon issue in June 2025.