Liam Cooper understands that his current contract is expiring and that he will not be signing a new one with Leeds United this summer. Shortly after reaching his tenth year at Elland Road, the skipper will be free to sign with any team on July 1.
Only 11 of United’s 49 games this season have seen the 32-year-old start, and with the team’s 2024–25 league status still up in the air, there has been no movement on a new contract as of yet. Daniel Farke has regularly chosen Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, and Ethan Ampadu over Cooper in central defense.
Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling, two of his closest friends who were on the Leeds roster, have contracts that expire in less than a year at the start of this season. While the latter is finishing out the season at Middlesbrough, the former revealed last week that he was retiring from football after nearly two years of trying to recover from a fractured femur.
At the club’s end-of-season awards ceremony last night, the three were acknowledged and shared the stage while accepting a special accomplishment award. Cooper stated clearly on stage what he thought would happen by June 30.
When asked to describe his nearly ten years at United, Cooper responded, “turbulence.” Particularly with these two lads, through numerous highs and lows. The first few years of adjustment were challenging. They say the rest is history, I guess.
It’s almost been seven years since I became captain. Every day, I’ve made an effort to provide a positive example for others, lead by example, and do everything in my power to improve our club.
“These two have supported me during my journey. I have done this work with a great deal of honor. I hope that I can continue to appreciate every moment for a few more years, but we’ll see.
Following his retirement, Dallas and his family took a lap around Elland Road during the halftime of Saturday’s game against Blackburn Rovers. As they embraced at the entrance to the tunnel, Cooper was clearly moved on the field.
The captain would use the opportunity to honor his best buddy and teammate on stage.
He remarked, “We were all on our separate journeys before we got together, and we’ve been best friends ever since Stu came through the door.” “Our families get along, they cherish each other’s bones.”
“I want to pay my respects to Stu because I didn’t think I was going to get this opportunity, this is a bit of a surprise tonight. What we’ve been through, the ups and downs we’ve lived, it was a sad, sad say, but everything he’s done for this club, for myself, for my family.
“He’s carried himself with great pride and given 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’s made me today.
“What he’s done for this club is unbelievable. [He] deserves all the plaudits he’s going to get. The same energy he’s put into trying to get back, he’s got to put that energy now into something else and I’ll be right by his side, he’ll be right by mine and whatever he chooses to do next, we’ll dive in and give it everything we’ve got.”
