:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56347871/456071160.0.jpg)
It was all done and dusted this morning.
Jay-Roy Grot signs for #LUFC after meeting Angus Kinnear, @T9Christiansen and Victor Orta pic.twitter.com/eAcUh3Us4T
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 24, 2017
Leeds paying £750,000 up front to NEC for Jay-Roy Grot. Fee will rise via clauses, add-ons etc. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 24, 2017
As we told you yesterday, Jay-Roy Grot officially signed for Leeds United today on a four-year deal. While the terms were not disclosed, Phil Hay of the Yorkshire Evening Post did report that the deal was for £750k, with the add-ons rising to a rumored £1.5 million. The English transfer system is completely broken, so it’s nice to see the club find a reasonable fee to pay for a player, even if he is an unproven teenager.
This signing was relatively hyped up by the club, with much more attention given to the signature of a 19 year-old from the second division in the Netherlands than one would typically expect.
We've teamed up with new signing Jay to offer fans the chance to win a signed #LUFC shirt. Enter now at https://t.co/sjPU9v9jW7 pic.twitter.com/rD6dh0Fz3b
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 24, 2017
Following in the footsteps of players including Eddie Gray and Gary Speed, Jay-Roy Grot will wear the number 11 shirt pic.twitter.com/gBubRAzEvX
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 24, 2017
I mean, it’s a nice gesture to fans to win a signed shirt and I guess it’s important to announce his shirt number, but are we even sure he’s going to get regular first team football? He still is only a teenager, and while he might be a star in the making, he’s not exactly a star currently. And seriously, Gary Speed and Eddie Gray? Way to put some pressure on the kid.
After becoming the club's 13th signing this window, Jay-Roy Grot speaks exclusively with LUTV at https://t.co/ueH5xgo6Ro pic.twitter.com/isP1Yv2Wqy
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 24, 2017
He seems like a nice kid, and I really wish him the best. We profiled him before, and while he played in the Eredivisie last season, he did only score seven goals for NEC. I am guardedly optimistic that he will be able to step in and start a few matches, but I don’t know if he’s going to be ready to go on Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest, much less step in and score a goal on his debut. We already were spoiled by Saiz and Alioski stepping in and working magic, but those players are in their 20s and have experience.
And the problem with hyping him up so much is that if he does go out and have a problem adjusting to the Championship, fans could easily turn on him. He’s not here to replace Chris Wood, but good luck convincing that to someone who hoped to win a signed shirt from the new wonder-kid down at Elland Road.
Anyway, the club has signed a promising youngster from the Netherlands for a small fee. Let’s all hope, for his sake and the club’s sake, that he is worth the hype.