From wonderkid to leader: How Ethan Ampadu leads Leeds United
Ampadu made his debut against Brentford in 2016 in the EFL Cup, 15 years, 10 months, and 26 days, and in 2016.
Only 12 months later, he made a major transfer to Chelsea. A series of four loans to RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venez and Spezia each face their own challenges: whether it is culture, language, tactical differences or situations.
Ampadu Former manager Rob Page said he was the “future captain” of his country.
He told BBC Sport: “I feel like I’ve found a home and hopefully I can prove it in a show and a person’s way. I feel like I’ve experienced and experienced those things I have to mature long ago.”
“I live in a few different places, experience different cultures, and see people behave in these professional environments.
“Being trusted at the age of 15 to perform and perform to get results, I think it’s a way I have to mature. But, in my development, being with people I’m older, that also plays a role in it.
“I feel like because of the way I grew up, I’ll meet maturity, but I’m sure if you’re asking some boys on the training ground they might still say I’m 24.”
Former Welsh captains Gareth Bale and Ashley Williams are considered major influencers, with Chelsea legend Cesar Azpilicueta and former Leeds centre-back Liam Cooper captaining last season.
But his father, Kwame Ampadu, who was a former football player coach in Exeter, was “the first person I looked up to,” but “I was also the one I talked to the coach as a player.”
This influenced his father to pass on him, inspiring his next step away from football as Ampadu became a father in 2022.
