Brighton had already seen bids of £29m and £35m rejected this summer for Leeds star Georginio Rutter but the Frenchman’s contract featured a £40m release clause which became active upon United’s relegation back to the Championship at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
The clause had a Wednesday evening midnight deadline but Brighton activated the clause in time with a third £40m bid which left any prospective move in Rutter’s hands. Sky Sports Germany are now reporting that Rutter has agreed to join Brighton with immediate effect, that a verbal agreement is done with details to be clarified later today. The player’s medical, they report, could follow in the next 72 hours.
The summer transfer window opened on Friday, June 14, by which point Leeds had already released details of their new season retained list which in itself featured 11 departures. But a steady stream of further exits since including the exits of two stars now has Leeds nearing three team’s worth of players leaving the club.
The summer transfer window will close at 11pm on Thursday, August 30 but here we run through the full list of 26 exits which is expected to become 27 and then 28, four arrivals and two men returning, plus where released players have now ended up.
31. BACK: Max Wober (returned from Borussia Monchengladbach)
Another of last season's loanees re-integrated back into the squad, Austrian international defender Wober returning from his loan spell with Borussia Monchengladbach. Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
32. EXPECTED OUT: Georginio Rutter
Record signing Rutter has reportedly ‘verbally agreed’ to join Brighton after the Seagulls activated his £40m release clause. Photo: George Wood
33. TBC: Liam Cooper
Cooper's Leeds contract ended this summer so the centre-back is now a free agent. It is expected that Cooper will seal a move to another club. Photo: Alex Burstow