Gradel seals Leeds switch

Whites snap up former loan star from Foxes

By James Pearson   Last updated: 25th January 2010  

Gradel seals Leeds switch

Gradel: Leeds switch sealed

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Max Gradel has confirmed to skysports.com that he has joined Leeds United on a two-and-a-half-year contract after leaving Leicester.

The 22-year-old spent three months on loan at Elland Road from the Foxes and proved an instant hit with Whites fans.

Gradel returned to Leicester last week and with the prospect of reserve team football back on the menu he submitted a transfer request on Friday.

Leeds confirmed they had agreed a fee for his services at the weekend and after undergoing a successful medical on Monday he has now signed for the West Yorkshire outfit.

Gradel is delighted to be back at Leeds, a club whose ambitions match his own.

Dream come true

"I'm just happy to move on. It's a very, very big club and has massive fans. I'm very happy," he told skysports.com. "It's a dream come true.

"I'm happy to be part of this club as they are very ambitious. I'm going to show my proper football now, I'm very happy.

"I liked the Leicester fans. They have been very good to me and they always supported me."

Gradel has revealed City boss Nigel Pearson did not want to lose his services, but also could not guarantee him first-team football.

Following promotion to the Championship last season Gradel fell down Pearson's pecking order, forcing the talented attacker to look elsewhere.

"Nigel did not want to sell me, but I said I wanted to go because I was not playing first-team football," he continued.

"I put in the transfer request because I had to. I wanted to play football again. I didn't want to play in the reserves again."

Confidence

Although Leeds' League One results have dipped recently Gradel is confident Simon Grayson's side can recapture their best form, starting against Swindon on Tuesday.

Gradel is available for selection after returning to Leicester following the 2-0 defeat at Exeter and is as determined to help his team-mates finish as champions.

"I think the confidence is back now," he concluded. "The spirit of the team is very good.

"I'm back in the team now and I'm going to do everything I can to help the team.

"We don't want to just get promoted. We want to go up as champions. We don't want to go up as runners-up."