Leeds United insist Ethan Ampadu has their full support as images of his son in a Galatasaray shirt emerged.
Two fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were tragically killed prior to the club’s UEFA Cup semi-final clash against the Turkish side in April 2000 and remains a sensitive topic among the fanbase.
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The images were posted online by Ampadu’s former partner, which then forced the club to issue a statement.
“Leeds United are aware of an image circulating online of Ethan Ampadu’s son,” it read.
“Ethan separated from his partner several months ago and has no responsibility for the image in question.
“Ethan is aware of and sensitive to the tragic loss within the Loftus and Speight families.
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“The club asks for Ethan’s privacy to be respected in what is a difficult time for him personally.
“Our captain has been a leader on and off the pitch this season, demonstrating his commitment to the club, its history, and the broader Leeds community. Ethan has the full support of everybody at Leeds United.
“The club will be making no further comment.”
Ampadu was named Leeds’ captain prior to the 2024/25 campaign and had been a visible presence at a number of events commemorating the tragic deaths of Loftus and Speight.
The Welshman was also one of the players who laid flowers and shirts in front of the travelling Leeds fans at Kenilworth Road in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.
Ampadu moved to Elland Road in the summer of 2023 from Chelsea after the Yorkshire outfit had been relegated from the Premier League.
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It marked just the second permanent transfer in Ampadu’s career having joined Chelsea at age 16 from Exeter City in 2017.
Ampadu made only 12 senior appearances for the Blues as his time at Stamford Bridge was predominantly spent out on loan.
The 24-year-old had temporary stints at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia before he joined Leeds.
He started every Championship game for Leeds in the 2023/24 campaign as the club finished third.
However, they missed out on an instant return to the Premier League after a 1-0 loss to Southampton in the play-off final.
But Ampadu and his side rebounded in emphatic fashion as they finished atop the Championship in the 2024/25 season.
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Leeds spent almost the entire second half of the campaign in first place and finished with 100 points.
Although they endured a brief wobble late in the term when they won just once in six matches, six straight wins to round out the season secured a Premier League return.
It marked the second time Leeds had finished first in the Championship in the last six years having achieved the feat in the 2019/20 season under Marcelo Bielsa.
The Yorkshire outfit avoided relegation in their first two campaigns back in the English top flight but could only muster a 19th-place finish in the third.
