Tom Cairney is a former prospect of Leeds United who was released from the club’s academy before making a senior appearance, but has gone on to have an exceptional career. Branded as too small at the time, but he proved his worth in other ways. The attacking midfielder was let go at the age of 16 due to concerns about his height, yet he has gone on to have outstanding success in his professional career.
After being released by Leeds, Cairney found a new start at Hull City where he played in over 80 matches, registering five goals and 11 assists. His performances there earned him a move to Blackburn Rovers, initially on loan and then made permanent, before making another transfer move to Fulham. It was at Fulham where Cairney truly made his mark, playing over 300 matches and registering more than 100 games in the Premier League.
Cairney’s market value on Transfermarkt soared from €750k to a whopping €18m by August 2018 after finding success with Hull City and Fulham. This dramatic increase in value spotlighted the former Leeds prospect as a missed opportunity for the club. The significant growth in his market value emphasizes the success that Cairney has found, and the fact that Leeds missed out on his potential.
Throughout his career, Cairney has been a solid performer, consistently showcasing his quality and professionalism. His statistics in the Premier League speak to his reliability and excellence, even at the age of 33, when he has not started matches on a consistent basis for his current club, Fulham. This consistent quality throughout his career shows that Leeds may have had a howler in releasing him, missing out on a player who has proven himself to be an excellent performer at the top level.
