Lewis Bate, the 21-year-old midfielder, has confirmed his departure from Leeds United and will join League One side Stockport County on a free transfer. Bate took to social media to express his excitement about the move, stating that he was “buzzing” to join the League Two champions ahead of their upcoming campaign in the third tier.The midfielder’s departure from Elland Road brings an end to a spell that failed to live up to expectations. Bate arrived at Leeds in 2021 on a reported £1.2 million transfer from Chelsea, but he struggled to make an impact in the first team.
Despite featuring in a few games during his first season, including an FA Cup appearance and two Premier League appearances under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch respectively, Bate found himself out of favor under Daniel Farke.Bate’s only other first-team appearance came in August 2023, against Shrewsbury in the EFL Cup, before he was loaned out to MK Dons in January. The midfielder’s failure to break into the first team led to his contract being allowed to expire, and he will join Stockport County on July 1.Some fans may argue that Bate was never given a true chance to impress at Elland Road, but his departure marks the end of a spell that went in the opposite direction to what was expected in the summer of 2021.
Bate’s move to Stockport County represents a fresh start for the young midfielder, who will be hoping to make a bigger impact in League One.In other Leeds United news, Maximilian Wober has spoken out amid radio silence from Elland Road. The defender’s comments come as the club prepares for a summer of change, with several players expected to leave and new signings on the horizon.Leeds United fans can stay up to date with all the latest transfer news and updates by following us on Facebook or joining our brand new WhatsApp Channel. With the transfer window set to be a busy one, fans won’t want to miss out on the latest developments from Elland Road.