Can Leeds recall Joe Gelhardt from Sunderland loan early?

Rodrigo's injury has left Leeds short on strikers, so could they recall Joe Gelhardt from Sunderland?

Author:
Michael Graham
Publish date:
Feb 3, 2023 10:45 PM EST

Sunderland fans are entitled to feel at least a little paranoid about players being recalled from loan.

Ellis Simms originally signed for the full season, although Everton recalled him early just before the January transfer window.

As soon as Amad Diallo settled and started producing too, there was a lot of talk about Manchester United recalling him early as well. Thankfully, that one didn’t happen.

Sunderland will now be relying on another loanee – Joe Gelhardt – as their only striker for the remainder of the season following the injury to Ross Stewart.

Shortly after allowing Gelhardt to leave on loan, though, Leeds suffered a striker injury blow of their own with Rodrigo requiring ankle surgery.

That had led to some speculation about whether they would be able to recall Gelhardt at any moment to cover for the Spaniard, which would be a nightmare scenario for Sunderland.

So, is there any danger of that happening?

Can Leeds recall Joe Gelhardt from Sunderland loan?

Thankfully, from a Sunderland point of view at least, the answer is no. Loan rules dictate that there are only two scenarios in which a loan can be terminated early.

As per the rulebook:

56.1.3 any early termination of a Standard Loan must be by way of a mutual agreement in writing (including by way of a recall clause within the Standard Loan Agreement) between the Transferor Club, the Transferee Club and the Player but can only be completed:

(a) after the expiry of 28 days; and

(b) only during a Transfer Window (but subject to Regulation 56.1.4 below) unless otherwise agreed by the League in its absolute discretion (subject to such conditions as the League deems appropriate).

So, essentially, Leeds could have only recalled Gelhardt during January, and it would have had to have been after a period of 28 days anyway.

It is the same rule that prevented Sunderland from recalling Jay Matete from loan at Plymouth to cover the injury to Corry Evans.

That means that there is no danger of Gelhardt being recalled early by Leeds and he will remain at Sunderland until the summer.

Can Leeds recall Joe Gelhardt from Sunderland loan?

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