It’s official: Kemar Roofe leaves Leeds for Anderlecht

Well, after some rumours had circled for a few days, it’s now official. Kemar Roofe has left Leeds United and joined Anderlecht in Belgium.

Per the club’s official website:

Leeds United forward Kemar Roofe has today joined Belgian side R.S.C. Anderlecht for an undisclosed fee.

Roofe joined Leeds from Oxford United in the summer of 2016 and went on to make 122 appearances for the Whites, scoring 32 goals in all competitions.

He netted two hat-tricks during his time at Leeds, with both coming in the 2017/18 season, against Newport County in the Carabao Cup in August 2017 and against Queens Park Rangers in December 2017.

The striker netted 15 goals for Leeds last season as Marcelo Bielsa’s side reached the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, including memorable last minute winners in back to back games against Aston Villa at Villa Park and Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road.

Roofe joins up with former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, who is the player-manager at the club. It’s a big leap for Roofe, who wasn’t expected to start at striker either of the last two seasons, only to earn playing time up front after injuries and lack of form derailed other options such as Hamburger SV loanee Pierre-Michel Lasogga or Patrick Bamford, who made a big-money move from Middlesbrough.

The striker was also in the last year of his contract, and with the club reportedly far apart in contract negotiations, this isn’t the worst piece of business by the club. However, this does leave Leeds needing to complete at least one deal quickly in order to replace him.

Hopefully Roofe will play well in Belgium, and he’s at one of the best, if not the best, club in the Jupiler Pro League. Anderlecht have won 34 titles, and if he does great there, he might end up back in England or another league in Europe, so let’s hope that Leeds Director of Football Victor Orta got a decent sell-on clause, eh?