Liam Cooper drops Leeds United future hint as contract expires before 10th birthday

A new deal at Leeds United is what Liam Cooper wants this summer, but right now he knows his future is up in the air as his current deal falls through. The captain will be a free agent from July 1, six weeks before his 10th birthday at Elland Road.

The 32-year-old has started just 11 of United’s 49 games this season and with the club’s 2024/25 league unclear, there has been no progress towards a new deal at the moment. Cooper saw Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu consistently selected ahead of him in central defense by Daniel Farke.

Two of his closest friends on the books at Leeds, Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling, also started this season with less than a year left on their contracts. The former announced his retirement from football last week after almost two years trying to come back from a fractured femur, while the latter is in the middle of the season at Middlesbrough.

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The trio were honored at the club’s end-of-season awards ceremony last night, sharing the stage as they collected a special achievement award. On stage, Cooper made it clear what he hoped would come before June 30.

Asked how he would sum up almost 10 years at United, Cooper said: “Turbulence. Especially with these two boys, through many ups and downs. It was a difficult time, a few years to settle. I guess they say the rest is history.

“I have been captain for almost seven years now. I tried every day to lead by example, to be a good example around the place and to do everything I can to make this club better.

“These two helped me along the way. It is one (a job) that I have done with great honor. I enjoyed every second of it and hopefully that can continue for a few more years, but we’ll see.”

Dallas’ retirement was followed by a lap at Elland Road at half-time in Saturday’s defeat to Blackburn Rovers with his family. Cooper was visibly emotional on the pitch as they hugged at the mouth of the tunnel.

The Commander would take his chance on stage to pay tribute to his best friend and teammate.

“We were all on our own different journeys before we met and ever since Stu walked in the door we’ve been best friends ever since,” he said. “Our families get along, they love each other’s bones.

“I want to give credit to Stu because I didn’t think I would get this opportunity, this is a surprise tonight. What I went through, the ups and downs I experienced, it was a sad, sad word, but everything he did for this club, for me, for my family.

“He carried himself with great pride and gave everything for this club. He should be so proud of the career he’s had, but I wanted to thank him for the person he made me today.

“What he has done for this club is incredible. (He) deserves all the plaudits he’s going to get. The same energy he put into trying to get it back, he has to put that energy into something else now and I’ll be next to him, he’ll be next to mine, and whatever he chooses to do next, we’re going to sink. come in and give it all we got.”