The former Newcastle United striker opens up about Leeds United’s transfer rejection

Rolando Aarons first revealed that he turned down Leeds United for Newcastle United at the age of 16.

Now 28, Aarons’ career has been badly hit by injury, with Transfermarkt reporting he has missed a total of 123 games – almost matching the 139 he actually managed at the professional levels of English football and also some time on the continent. .

With 14 goals and nine assists in that time, it’s certainly not the career that was presented to the once highly regarded talent.

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Currently with Slovenian Prva Liga side NK Celje, the midfielder has reflected on the choices he made when he earned his big keeper back in 2012. With clubs including Leeds eyeing Bristol City’s youth talent in 2012, St. James’ Park would be at its end. destination.

“It happened quite quickly because I went from living in Bristol and being released by Bristol City to going to Newcastle and I had a lot of problems in the first six months,” he told ChronicleLive. “I actually wanted to leave and come back and change my mind.

“I was offered a professional deal at Leeds United before I came to Newcastle. So I was almost asking my agent ‘do you think I can go to Leeds instead?’ Because it was also a massive culture shock compared to what I was used to.

“Then going away for pre-season, having a good pre-season, coming back, taking the number 16 shirt, which is obviously the right team number. It all happened too fast to process.”

He later found a home in West Yorkshire, albeit with Leeds’ rivals Huddersfield Town. He spent two seasons at the John Smiths Stadium but was only called up 11 times by the first team.

Whichever way you look at it, Leeds may have dodged a potential bullet as a result of Aarons’ decision 12 years ago, or it could have completely changed the outlook of the forward’s career.