The calibre of player Leeds United are linked with these days is far removed from the players touted with a move to Elland Road a few years ago, especially after the sales of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.
Leeds spent big that summer after selling the duo for a combined £100m to Barcelona and Manchester City. In came Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams for fees of £20m or more that window.
The same season saw Leeds break their transfer record with the £35m addition of Georginio Rutter. The Frenchman was signed after Leeds failed to get a deal over the line for top target Charles De Ketelaere.
Andrea Radrizzani admitted in an interview with The Athletic after that summer window that Leeds were close to doing a deal with Club Brugge for De Ketelaere, only for the Belgian to choose to join AC Milan.
Charles De Ketelaere’s five goals and assists in Champions League
De Ketelaere’s choice to join Milan was a poor one. He really struggled with the Rossoneri, and was sent on loan to Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta. That seemed to do the trick for De Ketelaere, shining last term.
Last season, the 20-time Belgium star had a hand in 25 goals in 50 matches as Atalanta won the Europa League. He completed a permanent £22.5m move in the summer, and his form has continued at Atalanta.
Going into Tuesday night’s clash against Swiss side Young Boys, De Ketelaere had three goals and six assists in 17 games. But a 6-1 win Atalanta win in Switzerland saw him score two goals, and create three.
Charles De Ketelaere and Georginio Rutter compared since 2022
Had Leeds signed De Ketelaere in the summer of 2022 ahead of Milan, it feels unlikely that Leeds would have then brought in Rutter from Hoffenheim. The duo are similar both in stature, and positionally.
| Games | Starts | Goals | Assists | Minutes per G+A | |
| Rutter’s 2022-23 (Hoffenheim and Leeds) | 30 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 260 |
| Rutter’s 2023-24 (Leeds) | 51 | 49 | 8 | 16 | 175 |
| Rutter’s 2024-25 (Leeds and Brighton) | 13 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 158 |
| De Ketelaere’s 2022-23 (Brugge and Milan) | 51 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1481 |
| De Ketelaere’s 2023-24 (Atalanta) | 51 | 37 | 14 | 11 | 118 |
| De Ketelaere’s 2024-25 (Atalanta) | 18 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 88 |
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
The duo have followed similar paths. Struggled initially after their big-money moves to Leeds and Milan, then starring in their second season – Rutter in the Championship, De Ketelaere on loan at Atalanta.
There is no doubt that De Ketelaere has exceeded Rutter. His 2023-24 form came in Serie A, while Rutter was in England’s second tier with De Ketelaere producing a goal and an assist 54 minutes more often.
The Premier League might be a slightly-better standard than Serie A but the Champions League trumps all. De Ketelaere’s form this season is incredible, a goal and an assist in less than 90 minutes this season.
Related Posts
