Leeds Rhinos youngster Levi Edwards has left the club on a permanent basis to join Championship side York Knights. Edwards returns to the club where he spent the 2022 season on loan, after agreeing a three-year deal with the ambitious Knights.
He has been part of the setup at the Rhinos since the age of 16, and scored four tries in 11 appearances for the Knights last season. Edwards has also spent time out on loan at fellow Championship side Batley, but with his opportunities limited at Headingley this season, Edwards has been granted a release to take up a permanent contract elsewhere.
The 19-year-old was included in the England Knights squad as recently as 2021, and he insists the decision to leave the Rhinos and move across Yorkshire was a straightforward one.
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“I’m really excited," he said. I was at the club last year for the season on loan and I really enjoyed it, it’s a really good club. I can’t wait to get going again now playing for the club on a permanent deal.
“I want to improve my game and develop as a player and I think that York is the club for me to do that. It’s a really professional environment here and the facilities are top class. It wasn’t a hard decision to come here on a permanent deal and I think it’s going to be a really good move for me in the long run.
“And hopefully I can help the club in the long run by getting us into Super League. I’d love to help York get there and I’d love to be playing in Super League myself."
Knights coach Andrew Henderson said: "Levi was on loan with the club last year so we made our initial enquires about potentially bringing him on loan again this season.
“Then we had an indication that we might be able to get him permanently. We didn't hesitate to progress that and make that move. Levi is an exciting talent and a fantastic carrier of the ball. I believe he has the potential to be a Super League player in the future.
“He's someone we've identified as being part of the journey longer term all being well from his side if he continues to progress and develop as a player, as we hope he will.
“We couldn’t miss out this opportunity to get a player of Levi's quality and in that position more importantly to add strength and depth to the current squad. He’s really excited to come to York, he said he really enjoyed the experience last year during his time here and he's excited about the new opportunity for him."
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