Eoghan Stokes leaves Leeds United

Leeds United announced today that Eoghan Stokes is no longer with the club.

Per the club’s official website:

Leeds United can confirm Eoghan Stokes has left the club, after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Stokes departs the Whites, having made one first team appearance, in the 5-1 victory over Newport County last August.

With all of the new players signed for the youth system, it’s not surprising that a few of the current players have had to leave. The McKay brothers left Leeds earlier this season, and now Stokes has left the club as well. Stokes had signed for Leeds in July of 2012 after starting his career with St. Kevins Boys in Dublin, Ireland.

The 21 year-old former Republic of Ireland U19 striker didn’t make a great impression when he played against Newport County in the League Cup earlier this season, and it appears that new prospects such as 16 year-old striker Jack Edmondson, who was signed from York City back in November, and recent acquisition Sam Dalby, an 18 year-old striker who was signed from Leyton Orient earlier this month, have moved ahead of Stokes in the pecking order at in the Academy.

Hopefully Stokes will find a new home in football, as he’s done enough at the U19 level, scoring 4 goals in 9 appearances, to warrant another chance at a different football club, but it appears his time with Leeds is up. He hasn’t appeared to be in the long-term plans of Leeds for some time now, and so this really doesn’t come as a very big surprise. The club wished him well in their official statement, and I think all fans wish him the best in whatever comes next for him.