Lewis Bate certainly wasn’t the biggest name to leave Leeds United in the summer, but he may feel like the one who got away.
The Yorkshire side parted company with a number of names in the previous transfer window, including Crysencio SummervilleGeorginio Rutter and Archie Gray as well as Bate.
Still only 21, Bate was signed by Chelsea in the summer of 2021 and arrived at Elland Road with a strong reputation, having been capped 11 times for England at various youth levels.
However, Bate, who was once named on the Chelsea bench in a Champions League game against Bayern Munich, was unable to make it to Elland Road.
The central midfielder played just five times for the Whites at senior level and never featured in the league, with most of his minutes coming on loan at Oxford United and MK Dons, as well as Leeds U21s.
Lewis Bate thriving in League One after Leeds failure
Bate left Leeds for Stockport County in the summer, joining the newly promoted League One side on a free transfer.
And the London-born youngster is already causing quite a stir.
Despite only arriving in the summer, Bate was quickly named club captain ahead of the new season.
Bate is putting in big numbers for Dave Challinor’s side, averaging 3.89 possessions won in the middle third every 90 minutes, along with 49.76 passes completed and 1.17 chances created every 90.
The midfielder’s form has helped an ambitious Stockport side finish sixth in League One with 16 points from nine games, just four adrift of the automatic promotion places.
If Bate can guide the Hatters to the Championship at the first time of asking, he may feel vindicated after his frustrating spell at Elland Road.
Top photo by George Wood/Getty Images
