‘Historic transfer’ – Polish side signed Arsenal graduate from Premier League team named biggest loser of summer window
Leeds were named the big losers of this summer’s shopping spree – and it could be even worse as one transfer is eyeing history.
talkSPORT Breakfast host Jeff Stelling argued the Whites have had the worst window, with one former star now hoping to become a household name abroad.
Sam Greenwood has started his journey from the fringes of Leeds United to a potential European star at Polish side Pogon Szczecin.
The former Arsenal academy player has spent the entirety of his career in England before a surprise transfer to the Ekstraklasa.
The 23-year-old first came through the ranks at Sunderland before the Gunners beat out Manchester United to sign him as a teenager.
Two years later, Leeds completed a six-figure purchase of Greenwood upon their return to the Premier League in the summer of 2020.
The England U21 international has now found himself on the move again following the Whites’ latest Championship promotion.
However, this summer, Greenwood, who spent last year out on loan at Preston North End, following a season-long stint at Middlesbrough, has joined Polish side Pogon for €4million (£3.5m).
While the fee is a drop in the ocean for Premier League clubs, it represents a huge investment for the three-time Conference League qualifying hopefuls.
Tan Kesler, who was appointed CEO, vice-president and minority shareholder at Pogon in March, was key in targeting the Leeds star.
The former Hull City vice-chairman exclusively told talkSPORT.com: “It was quite an exciting transfer for us, obviously.
“Me being from England, and then knowing the Championship dynamic, knowing the league’s organisation right down the street from us and also knowing how much they invested in players like Sam, Joe Gelhardt.
“I was in Hull very highly and knew him from our scouting department, Lee and the rest of our recruitment specialists; they all knew him from even [his] Arsenal days.
“To be honest with you, we believe the Championship intensity could be very useful for extra class-up.
“Sam has always been a dynamic player, versatile, had different things to offer on the pitch, whether it’s a false nine, whether it’s a ten or whether sometimes it’s an eight.
“We were in need of a position in such, but also we were looking for a marquee player who could commence other leagues.
“Poland is an emerging market. We’re known as developing players, selling players, but at the same time, it’s just a high-level, very high-intensity league.
“We wanted to convince people that players from other big leagues and top players would consider coming to Poland and be a marquee player and be an example for many other English players.”
Poland is an emerging market
This summer has seen young English talent head to Germany, with Carney Chukwuemeka and Jarell Quansah leaving Chelsea and Liverpool for Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively.
Jonathan Rowe has found his feet at Italian club Bologna after leaving Marseille, but Greenwood has broken the mould in Poland.
Kesler explained: “He’s suited technically in our system, he’s suited for personality checks. He has an amazing family. His father was brilliant.”
Greenwood’s record arrival is not just an investment for Pogon now – it will hopefully be one that will pay dividends in the future.
Jadon Sancho‘s decision to quit Manchester City for Germany started a trend that Jamie Gittens, Jude and Jobe Bellingham all emulated.
The Netherlands has also proved a hotbed in recent history, most notably with Mason Mount, Noni Madueke, and Dominic Solanke.
Creating a pathway for English talents
In the same vein, Greenwood could act as the first of a line of emerging English talent that head to the Ekstraklasa for gametime.
“We wanted to create a pathway between England to Poland and Poland to England,” the 46-year-old told talkSPORT. “Not just a pathway, it’s more like a trusted channel between the player acquisitions.
“Sam is a no-brainer, and I have to thank our president because he personally got involved with me to convince him, and he pushed all his financials to make the deal happen as well.
“I look at the bigger picture. Sam is an ambassador, and hopefully, he’s going to represent English talent in Poland in a way that not only players will come here but also we want foreign investors to come in and invest in Polish football and extra-cluster teams so that we can develop the league.
“Then be able to create high standards and increase the standards of football, and be suitable for English talent as well.”
Greenwood is going to be this trendsetter
“It’s not just a simple plan,” Kesler continued. “It was more like a broader picture here. Sam has a bigger mission than just being an English-talented top player coming into Poland.
“He’s not only a leader, he’s a marquee player, but also he’s going to be this trendsetter or example for all the English players who want to consider playing in the Polish league as well.
“He already made an assist and made his debut, and that shows that he’s focused. Also, for English players, there are limited pathways to many countries.
“We also need and want to use homegrown talents as well. That’s why I think in England players are getting stuck with certain leagues being homegrown, and they’re very sceptical going abroad if it’s not the top leagues.”
Greenwood’s decision to take the plunge is all the braver considering Pogon almost went bust earlier this year.
The Polish top-flight side were 18 hours away from losing its licence before Kesler, along with owner Alex Haditaghi, helped turn the tide.
The Pride of Pomerania have since reached the Polish Cup final and enjoy sell-out crowds in excess of 20,000.
On Pogon’s pitch to Greenwood, Kesler revealed: “I think the most significant part that he was more interested in, as a club, when we took over as an ownership, we’ve specifically said that we want to achieve something that hasn’t been achieved for the club’s history since 1948, which is winning a title.
“We’ve told him that he will be part of a special group to achieve something that hasn’t been achieved in over 70-plus years. That kind of opened his and his family’s eyes.
“Of course, we have a brand new stadium, two years old, full capacity, every home game 22,000. We had to show him that.
“That also made him believe that this is a big city in Poland and a big club that has big ambitions and ownership and has also strong and big ambitions to achieve something special.
“We also told him how close we were, which probably made him more impressed. We were a cup finalist last year and the year before.
“He knew that we were always going to be chasing the European competitions. He did say, honestly, to be fair, he felt like he wanted to take up a challenge in Europe and be a European player, a high-level European player.
“Obviously, there are a number of British players going from England to Germany, Italy. We thought about why not Poland.
“He was very keen on it. He realised that it could be his starting point to go to bigger leagues from us.
“I’m not going to deny that we’re still an emerging league compared to Italy, Germany, Bundesliga. We are not underdeveloped.
“We currently have three teams playing in conference, European competitions and regularly in the group stage. He saw that pathway.
“I think that’s what made him convinced. This was the pitch that we’ve given it to him.
“Aside from obviously, our president is also a very sentimental and emotional person. I sent him an offer with a very emotional message. He was also surprised that he had some kind of family environment in here that he wanted to be part of as well.
“I really have to thank him for understanding and being open-minded to our project in Poland. Of course, he had his own demands.
“That’s why I thank our president for pushing his financials as well. We’ve invested in Sam quite significantly.
“He’s one of the most historic players for us in terms of what we are investing financially. But it was not a financial discussion.
“He really was on board to play European football. We had to convince him that we can give him that European football within the infrastructure and management we have.
“He spoke to the coach. The coach loved him. He loved the coach. They discussed his position.
“He was convinced. Everything came along, and he didn’t have too many doubts further on.”
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