Wigan Athletic in Line for Windfall as Leeds Transfer Nears 2026

Key Points

• Windfall for Wigan Athletic will come through the transfer of Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United to Hull City.
• Hull City are likely to shell out £6.5 million for the striker after he had a great loan period at Hull.
• The £1 million will come for Wigan due to a 20 per cent sell-on clause in Gelhardt’s 2020 transfer from Wigan to Leeds United.
• Gelhardt netted 15 times for Hull in their promotion season back to the Premier League.
• The striker was initially sold by Wigan to Leeds for a sum of £900,000, with a possible £400,000 extra depending on various conditions.
• The transfer will be a huge financial gain for Wigan following their financial troubles.
• Wigan could have some use for the money to help strengthen their team, but it seems like they only care about loans at the moment.
• The reported transfer might help Hull to further strengthen their squad in the Premier League.

Wigan (Manchester Mirror) August 13, 2026 – Athletic are expected to receive almost £1 million when Joe Gelhardt completes a permanent transfer from Leeds United to Hull City, according to Football Lowdown and information attributed to journalist Alan Nixon. The reported £6.5 million deal is set to activate a 20 per cent sell-on clause agreed when Gelhardt left uk/local/wigan/">Wigan for Leeds United in 2020.

Wigan developed Gelhardt through their academy before selling him to Leeds. The forward was regarded as one of the club’s most promising young players after making 19 Championship appearances for the Latics. Leeds paid an initial £900,000 for his services, while the original agreement also included a further £400,000 in potential add-ons.

The latest reported transfer would therefore give Wigan an additional return from a player who left the club six years ago. The payment would come through the sell-on provision rather than a new direct transfer agreement between Wigan and Hull.

Football Lowdown reported that Hull had agreed a £6.5 million fee to sign Gelhardt permanently from Leeds after the attacker helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League. The move follows his productive loan spell in East Yorkshire, during which he scored 15 goals.

What does the reported transfer mean for Wigan?

For Wigan, the proposed payment represents an important source of income at a time when the club have experienced financial difficulties. The expected figure of almost £1 million would be close to doubling the initial fee the Latics received when Gelhardt moved to Leeds in 2020.

The financial benefit is particularly notable because Wigan would receive the money without having to sell a current first-team player. The club retained the sell-on clause when Gelhardt moved to Leeds, allowing them to benefit from a future transfer involving the player.

The clause demonstrates the potential long-term value of academy development and transfer negotiations. Wigan’s original investment in Gelhardt’s development helped the club secure an initial fee from Leeds, while the additional contractual protection could now generate another substantial payment.

The reported windfall would also come after Wigan received a significant fee for goalkeeper Sam Tickle, who moved to Bristol City. Football Lowdown said the two deals could give manager Gary Caldwell and the club additional funds to consider when planning for the squad.

However, the report also indicated that Wigan may not spend heavily in the current transfer window. The club are reportedly exploring the loan market, with a loan move for Reggie Walsh close to completion and Fulham midfielder Luke Harris being considered as another possible addition.

How did Joe Gelhardt’s career develop after Wigan?

Gelhardt came through Wigan’s academy and was viewed as a player capable of establishing himself in the senior squad. He made 19 Championship appearances before Leeds completed his transfer in 2020.

His time at Leeds did not develop as expected. According to Football Lowdown, the 24-year-old made 58 appearances for the Elland Road club across six seasons. He also spent time away from Leeds on three loan spells.

His first reported loan move was to Sunderland. He later joined Hull City, initially arriving for his first spell in January 2025. That temporary move eventually became a significant stage in his career because Gelhardt produced the goals that helped Hull return to the Premier League after a decade outside the top division.

The permanent transfer would allow Hull to retain a player who had already demonstrated his value to the club. Gelhardt’s 15 goals during the promotion campaign made him one of the important attacking contributors in Hull’s push for promotion.

For Leeds, the move would bring an end to a period in which Gelhardt struggled to become a regular part of the team. His reported 58 appearances across six seasons indicate that he remained involved at points, but he did not establish himself as a consistent starter at Elland Road.

Why are Hull City signing Gelhardt permanently?

Hull are preparing for life back in the Premier League and are seeking additions to improve the squad. Gelhardt’s successful loan spell gave the club an opportunity to assess his form, role and suitability before committing to a permanent agreement.

The reported £6.5 million fee reflects Hull’s decision to make the forward part of their plans for the top flight. His previous output for the club provides a clear reason for the move, particularly after he scored 15 goals during the promotion season.

Hull are also reportedly targeting other players during the transfer window. Football Lowdown said the club were expected to recruit RB Salzburg’s Lucas Gourna-Douath in the coming days as they continued working to strengthen their squad.

The club’s transfer activity reflects the demands facing a newly promoted Premier League team. Hull must improve their squad depth and quality while preparing to compete against clubs with greater financial resources and more experience in the division.

Gelhardt’s familiarity with Hull could make his transition into the Premier League easier than that of a player arriving without previous experience at the club. His earlier loan spell also means he already understands the team environment and has built a relationship with the club’s supporters.

How much could Wigan benefit from the money?

The expected payment could give Wigan more flexibility in dealing with football and non-football costs. Football Lowdown suggested that, because of the Latics’ financial problems in recent years, using part of the money to strengthen off-field running costs could be a sensible priority.

The report did not confirm exactly how Wigan intend to allocate the income. It stated that the club would have funds available to invest in the squad if desired, but also indicated that their current approach appeared to favour loan recruitment rather than a major spending programme.

That distinction is important. A transfer windfall does not necessarily mean the whole amount will be available for new permanent signings. Clubs may need to direct new income towards operating costs, outstanding obligations, wages, recruitment expenses and wider financial commitments.

Wigan’s reported interest in Reggie Walsh and Luke Harris suggests that the club are continuing to assess lower-cost or temporary recruitment options. Loan deals can provide access to players while limiting the immediate financial commitment associated with permanent transfers.

The Gelhardt payment could nevertheless improve the club’s financial position. It would provide money linked to an earlier transfer and could help Wigan manage their budget during the season ahead.

What has been reported about the sell-on clause?

According to Football Lowdown, journalist Alan Nixon disclosed through his Patreon page that Wigan inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause when Gelhardt joined Leeds in 2020.

The clause reportedly applies to the player’s move from Leeds to Hull. Based on the reported £6.5 million transfer fee, 20 per cent would amount to approximately £1.3 million if calculated directly against the full fee. However, Football Lowdown described Wigan’s expected return as nearly £1 million, which may reflect deductions, the precise contractual wording or the treatment of the transfer fee.

The exact final amount has not been independently detailed in the available report. The payment will depend on the final structure of the agreement and the terms of the original sell-on clause.

That uncertainty does not change the central development: Wigan are expected to benefit financially from Gelhardt’s next move. The clause means the club could receive a sizeable sum even though the player has been away from the DW Stadium since 2020.

What could happen next for Wigan and Hull?

The next step is expected to be the completion of Gelhardt’s permanent transfer from Leeds to Hull. Once the deal is finalised, the sell-on clause should become relevant and Wigan’s payment can be processed under the terms agreed in the original transfer.

Hull will then continue preparing for their Premier League return. Gelhardt is expected to compete for a regular attacking role after his strong contribution during the promotion campaign.

Wigan, meanwhile, must decide how best to use the additional income. The club could strengthen Gary Caldwell’s squad, support existing operations or combine both approaches. The available report suggests that Wigan are not currently planning an aggressive spending spree and remain focused on loan opportunities.

The situation also underlines the importance of sell-on clauses for clubs outside the Premier League. A player’s later success can create a second financial return for the club that originally developed him, even after the player has moved through several stages of his career.

What is the background to the development?

Joe Gelhardt developed in Wigan Athletic’s academy and made 19 Championship appearances for the club before joining Leeds United in 2020. Leeds agreed an initial fee of £900,000, with a further £400,000 included in possible add-ons, according to Football Lowdown.

Gelhardt subsequently made 58 appearances for Leeds across six seasons but spent three periods away from the club on loan. His loan spell at Hull began in January 2025, and his 15 goals helped Hull win promotion to the Premier League after a ten-year absence.

The proposed permanent transfer to Hull is reported to be worth £6.5 million. It would activate the 20 per cent sell-on clause negotiated by Wigan when Gelhardt moved to Leeds. Football Lowdown, citing Alan Nixon’s Patreon report, said the clause could produce nearly £1 million for Wigan.

The development comes after Wigan also received a substantial fee for Sam Tickle’s transfer to Bristol City. The club are now reportedly considering how to balance squad recruitment with the need to manage financial pressures and off-field costs.

How could this development affect Wigan Athletic?

The reported transfer could give Wigan Athletic nearly £1 million in additional income and provide the club with more flexibility during the upcoming recruitment period. The most immediate benefit may be financial stability rather than a large number of permanent signings.

Wigan supporters should therefore expect the impact to depend on the club’s priorities. The money could help cover off-field costs, protect the club’s operating position and support selected recruitment. The current focus on loan deals suggests that the windfall may be used cautiously rather than triggering an extensive spending campaign.

The development could also reinforce Wigan’s academy strategy. Gelhardt’s transfer shows how sell-on clauses can produce future revenue when academy graduates continue progressing after leaving the club. For Wigan, that may encourage further emphasis on developing young players and negotiating future-transfer protections in player sales.

For Hull supporters, Gelhardt’s permanent arrival would provide continuity ahead of the Premier League campaign. His previous goalscoring record for the club offers a basis for optimism, but his impact in the top division will only become clear once the season begins.

For Leeds supporters, the transfer would bring a conclusion to Gelhardt’s time at Elland Road. The club would receive the reported transfer fee, while Wigan would benefit from the sell-on arrangement included in the original deal.