Leeds United star hints at big summer decision as Elland Road contract deadline looms
Sam Byram's Leeds United contract is due to expire this summer.
Leeds United defender Sam Byram will be looking to ‘play regularly’ next season as his Elland Road contract approaches its summer expiry.
Byram is one of four permanent Leeds squad members out of contract at the end of next month, the other three of which are all goalkeepers. The 32-year-old has come through three years since returning to West Yorkshire in 2023, initially signing a one-year deal with an appearance-triggered 12-month extension before penning fresh terms last July.
In each of Leeds’ two Championship campaigns under Daniel Farke, Byram played more than even he might have expected, starting 45 games across all competitions over both years with a further 30 appearances off the bench. But promotion to the Premier League fuelled recruitment and the full-back fell down the pecking order.
Byram got eight minutes off the bench at Arsenal in August and hasn’t played a Premier League game since, his sole start in any competition coming in a Carabao Cup penalty-shootout defeat to Sheffield Wednesday that same month. Since then, two appearances have come via late FA Cup cameos against Derby County and Norwich City.
Leeds are expected to strengthen their full-back areas further this summer and with Byram once again entering the final month of his contract, a big decision needs to be made. And the veteran defender has suggested a summer exit could be on the cards with regular football wanted.
Asked by the Official Leeds United podcast of his plans for the future, Byram said: “Yeah, I think get the job done here. You know, I'm confident that, you know, we'll see that out. And then for me, you know, I still think I've got a few years ahead playing football.
“I'd like to play regularly if I can. It's something off the back of before coming here, I had a lot of years on the sideline with injuries. So I think for me to get myself in a position where it's the best I've felt physically, I think that's something I really want to fulfil, play as much as I can.”
Sam Byram on ‘unbelievable’ Leeds United return
Should Byram and Leeds decide to part ways, it will be in far better circumstances than last time. Like a good number of fresh faces since, he arrived back in West Yorkshire amid long-term fitness issues but played a significant on-pitch role during both Championship campaigns, including last season’s 100-point title triumph.
“I think it came around as such a surprise to me, when I came back to the club, obviously starting off almost like on a trial,” he added. “I'd always hoped that I'd come back here at some point, but it seemed sort of out of the question at the time.
“Then to get the opportunity to come back and be involved with the last few years has just been unbelievable. I think, if you'd have asked me a few years ago, would I be able to envisage this? I could have never guessed in my wildest dreams that I'd have the years back here that I've had.
“So just really grateful to be given the chance to come back and then to be involved with such special moments. It's been a whirlwind really.”