Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has broken the trend of academy graduates in recent years by remaining at Elland Road. Supporters have seen countless players from the youth ranks break through into the first team, only to be sold before they get anywhere near their prime.
Phillips, though, is someone who has come through adversity at Leeds to get where he is today – overcoming the doubters that came his way during his early 20s. He then remained loyal to his boyhood club when the big boys came knocking back in 2019, which has seen him reap the rewards both for Leeds, and in the last 18 months, England.
So, amid his success at the Whites, LeedsLive have taken a look at five academy graduates who have left in recent years, and whether their career has been all the better for it.
Charlie Taylor
After establishing himself as a regular in the Leeds first team at the halfway point of the 2014/15 season, Charlie Taylor propelled himself to one of the best left-backs in the Championship in the seasons that followed. Taylor was as effective in attack as he was solid in defence, which saw Premier League clubs begin to circle.
After Leeds’ failed attempt at making the play-offs under Garry Monk, Taylor decided against signing a new deal at Elland Road and instead made the move to Burnley in 2017. Although the Clarets aren’t seen as one of the top-flight’s glamour clubs, they had certainly started to establish themselves as a fixture in the division upon his arrival.
Taylor has been a reliable performer for Sean Dyche at Turf Moor and has certainly established himself as a solid Premier League left-back. Nowt at 28, perhaps the only disappointment of his career so far is his failure to win himself an England cap.
Lewis Cook
Lewis Cook was seen as one of the best young talents to come through the academy at Thorp Arch and as a result was handed his senior debut at the age of just 17. Despite his lack of experience, Cook was a staple in the Leeds midfield during his maiden season in the first team – winning the Championship Apprentice of the Year award.
Leeds struggled to keep Cook’s talents under wraps, though, so much so that Premier League side Bournemouth snapped him up for £8million as a teenager. At just 21, Cook was then handed his debut for England, in a friendly 1-1 draw with Italy, which remains his only cap to date.
Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, his career since moving to the Cherries has been hampered by three serious injuries. In his first season at the club, he suffered a long-term ankle problem and he has since ruptured the cruciate ligament in his knee twice, which means he hasn’t quite developed into the player he should’ve done yet.
Sam Byram
Just like Cook, Sam Byram’s career hasn’t quite gone the way it could well have done due to a string of serious injuries. Byram was handed his debut for Leeds as a teenager back in 2019, and from then at Elland Road he never looked back as he became a regular in the starting XI.
After 143 appearances for the Whites, Byram was then sold to West Ham United for far below he was worth, which is where the injury problems began. Various muscle strains meant he made just 36 appearances for the Hammers.
A temporary spell at Nottingham Forest also did little to aid his development as played just eight teams on a season-long loan deal, as he was forced to undergo surgery on his knee. Unfortunately, it has been the same old story at Norwich City too, as a serious hamstring injury has meant he’s played just 29 games in three years. A real shame, given the abundance of talent he had.
Alex Mowatt
After failing to build on his player of the season campaign in 2014/15, where he netted nine goals in 38 matches from midfield, Alex Mowatt has gone onto forge a very good Championship career. He struggled early on upon his move to Barnsley, but a loan spell to League One side Oxford United helped get him back on track.
He netted eight goals and provided six assists in the 2018/19 season as he played a huge role in helping them to promotion to the Championship. In his final season at Oakwell, he then arguably enjoyed the best season of his career as Barnsley reached the play-off semi-finals.
As a result of his success in South Yorkshire, he earned a move to promotion favourites West Bromwich Albion – though this season has been a disappointment. He will certainly be hoping he gets a shot in the Premier League before the end of his career.
Jonny Howson
One of the most disappointing sales of any Leeds player in the last 10 years is arguably Jonny Howson – who left for Norwich City for around just £2million. Howson was captain of his boyhood club and a constant source of goals from midfield.
Howson, though, established himself as a very consistent figure at the Canaries, whether that be in the Premier League or the Championship. Ever since his days as a youngster at Leeds, Howson has been renowned for his engine – something which he is still getting plaudits for at the age of 33.
He is now plying his trade at Middlesbrough, where he has been since 2017 – and although he hasn’t yet been able to get them promoted to the Premier League, he did star in their FA Cup upsets of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Howson has certainly forged an impressive career for himself.
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