Leeds United confirm 2024/25 loan exit for striker ahead of Thorp Arch pre-season start

The Whites are due to return to Thorp Arch next Tuesday, after health screening takes place at Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie School of Sport, but Perkins will not be among the number reporting for fitness training. The 20-year-old forward, who is entering the final year of his three-year Elland Road contract, endured a 2023/24 campaign to forget. He was left out of Daniel Farke’s squad early on in the season as the manager and the German spoke about the need for players to impress him in training. Perkins then went on loan to Oxford United in League One but failed to shine and struggled for minutes. He was brought back early to Thorp Arch by Leeds with just four league minutes and a pair of EFL Trophy starts to his name. Oxford United head coach Des Buckingham said at the time: “He’s trained extremely well and been very good around the group, I think that’s important to stress. But when you’ve got Mark Harris and Gats [Gatlin O’Donkor] in the building, it’s been very difficult for him to get game time. I haven’t had a pre-season with him or the time to work with him and see him, so it’s more a timing thing and it’s better for his development to go back and get games, whether that’s at Leeds or somewhere else.”

When Perkins did return to his parent club Farke made it clear the forward was not part of his plans. Perkins made four Under 21 appearances but then sat out the final seven Premier League 2 games of the season.

Now the youngster, signed by Leeds following his exit from West Ham United in July 2022, will go out again on loan, this time with Leyton Orient. A club statement read: “Leeds United can announce Sonny Perkins has joined Sky Bet League One side Leyton Orient on loan, for the 2024/25 campaign. The 20-year-old forward, who has regularly impressed in the Under-21s and also had a handful of first team appearances since arriving at Elland Road, will seek to gain further experience with the O’s under the guidance of Richie Wellens. Everyone at the club would like to wish Sonny well during his time at the Gaughan Group Stadium and we look forward to seeing his development whilst away from the club.”

Leeds have previously entrusted Wellens with one of their youngsters. Robbie Gotts was loaned out to Wellens’ Salford City in February 2021. Wellens took over Leyton Orient in March 2022 with the club fighting relegation in League Two. Having led them to midtable safety the former Doncaster Rovers man masterminded the second League Two title of his managerial career the following season. Last season they finished 11th in League One and Wellens has promotion in his sights in the next couple of campaigns. Speaking after signing a three-year deal earlier this year he said: “Next year it's about changing that mindset and trying to establish us as a really good League One club, then in the following season and season after that then it's about trying to get us promoted.”