Options up front have been thin with Patrick Bamford yet to return to first-team action from his injury and Gnonto the only out-and-out striker. Rutter’s addition therefore brings valuable depth with high potential.
But what will he bring to the Premier League and what kind of a player is he?
It’s important to remember that this is only Rutter’s second full season in senior football after joining Hoffenheim from Rennes in 2020.
Last season, Rutter racked up 33 appearances including 13 starts in the Bundesliga. In that time, his immense potential came to light. The Frenchman scored eight goals and assisted two more in the league, firmly establishing himself as a starter then at Hoffenheim.
Shot volume has remained largely the same, averaging 2.38 shots per 95 this season, but it hasn’t been enough to find the back of the net as often.
While the regression in his goal return is slightly disconcerting, it mustn’t take away from what is clearly a player with immense potential to be a top-class attacker.
Rutter combines his exceptional technique with good movement on and off the ball to generate chances. Where he receives the ball will determine how he hurts opposition defences.
Whilst Rutter does prefer to use his right foot, he is just as good with his left and a dribbling wide forward with such a skillset is always going to pose problems for defences.
Given the premium fee that Leeds are paying up front, no doubt Rutter will need to impress the Elland Road faithful straight away.
The French U21 international’s abilities as a forward in a two provide an exciting potential future for Leeds involving Gnonto and Rutter.
With options being limited as they are, Rutter’s versatility will be a welcome addition to the squad and lighten the goalscoring burden on Spaniard Rodrigo who is the club’s top scorer with ten goals in the Premier League this season.
Before anything else, it is also worth keeping in mind that Leeds are paying a premium fee for a player who has world-class potential, so patience will be necessary to allow him to grow and continue.