An in-depth look into our second January recruit, Joe Gelhardt…
Born in Liverpool, England, Gelhardt grew up in Netherton, Merseyside, attending Chesterfield High School and joining Wigan Athletic’s academy at the age of 10 in 2013.
Progressing through the Latics’ academy, the versatile forward featured for England Under-15s in April 2017. Earning his first cap in a 3-1 win over Russia on 25 April 2017, Gelhardt scored his first goal for his country a day later when featuring in the final three minutes of a 5-1 win over Slovenia.
Scoring a second goal in consecutive days when starting in a 3-2 win over USA, his final Under-15s cap came when playing 34 minutes in a narrow 2-1 defeat against USA on 1 May 2017.
The following campaign saw Gelhardt feature six times for England Under-16s between February 2018 to April 2018. After being an unused substitute on Valentine’s Day 2018 in a 2-0 win over Denmark, the forward’s first Under-16s cap came in a 2-0 win over Spain two days later.
Three days after the victory over Spain, Gelhardt netted his first goal for the Under-16s in a 2-0 victory over Scotland, before earning a further four caps, scoring against Cameroon Under-17s and Brazil Under-16s before recording an assist in his final cap at that level in a 1-0 win over France.
The 2018/19 campaign saw Gelhardt make his first-team debut for the Latics, coming off the bench in the final 12 minutes in a 3-1 defeat against Rotherham United in the first round of the Carabao Cup on 14 August 2018.
His debut was rewarded not only with his first professional contract just 10 days after, but also a Under-17s debut with England in September, scoring a brace against Norway in just 11-second-half minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 6-0 win.
A total of 11 England Under-17 appearances saw a return of six goals prior to his league debut for Wigan Athletic in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City on 27 April 2019. He also netted a hat-trick against Hull City Under-18s in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup in a 6-2 win at the now-named MKM Stadium.
Scoring once in three games at the 2019 UEFA Under-17s Euros, the now 22-year-old netted his first senior goal in a 2-2 draw against the Tigers on 14 September 2019. Making 19 appearances in all competitions for the Latics, Wigan were relegated from the Championship after a 12-point penalty.
The forward also earned his first caps for England Under-18 during the 2019/20 campaign. After playing three games, Gelhardt captained England Under-18s in a 5-2 win over Poland, where he netted a brace. His sixth and final cap for the Under-18s not only saw him captain England again, but score the opening goal of the game in a 3-2 victory over Austria.
On 10 August 2020, Gelhardt left Wigan to join then Premier League side Leeds United on a four-year deal. His first campaign with the club saw him predominantly play for the Under-21s, scoring 11 goals in 16 outings in the Premier League 2, recording three assists, including featuring in the EFL Trophy against Blackpool.
His form in the Under-21s earned him a first-team debut for the Whites on 21 September 2021 when coming on as a substitute in a EFL Cup third round test against Fulham. The forward netted the seventh penalty in the shootout as Leeds progressed in the tie, before the 22-year-old made his Premier League debut a month later in a 1-0 defeat against Southampton.
In December of the same year, Gelhardt scored the first of three goals for Leeds, netting at Stamford Bridge in a narrow 3-2 loss against Chelsea, with his second being a dramatic 94th minute winner against Norwich City at Elland Road on 13 March 2022.
A total of 22 appearances was increased by 19 at Leeds the following campaign before making a temporary switch to Sunderland in the second half of the 2022/23 season. Making his debut for the Black Cats in a 1-1 draw against Millwall at the beginning of February, the forward’s first goal for Sunderland came in the same month in a 2-1 defeat away at Rotherham United.
Netting in the chaotic 4-4 draw at home to the Tigers and a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town, along with recording three assists, the 22-year-old helped Sunderland reach into the Championship Play-Offs. Gelhardt started in both semi-final games as eventual final winners Luton Town defeated the Black Cats 3-2 over two legs.
Last season saw Gelhardt feature 13 times in all competitions, scoring his most recent goal in a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town in the first round of the EFL Cup on 9 August 2023. The forward has been limited to only three appearances this campaign, featuring against Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Middlesbrough.
His last international cap came at Under-20s level, being handed his only appearance by Andy Edwards on 6 September 2021 against Romania. Coming on in just the 13th minute for ex-Tiger Jaden Philogene, Gelhardt netted a brace in a 6-1 win in the Under-20 Elite League. A month later, the forward was called up as a replacement for England Under-21s. However, he was an unused substitute in a 2-2 draw against Slovenia.
