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Midfielder reveals all on Leeds transfer: This is why I had to join Championship rivals
ALEX MOWATT has admitted he never expected to leave Leeds in January - but it was the right time to move.
Alex Mowatt admits it was the right time to leave Leeds
The 22-year-old joined Championship rivals Barnsley on a two-and-a-half year deal as a replacement for Aston Villa new boy Conor Hourihane.
Mowatt joined Leeds' ranks at the age of nine and went onto make over 100 first-team appearances at Elland Road.
Mowatt signed for Barnsley in January
But Mowatt, who claimed he was surprised by how quickly his transfer happened, has revealed he decided to leave the club due to his lack of game time under manager Garry Monk this season.
"I was on the bench and getting on every now and then. It’s not what I really wanted at my age and at this point in my career so I think it was time to move on," Mowatt said.
Mowatt fell out of favour at Leeds under Garry Monk
"I never really thought that I’d be leaving Leeds in January.
"I thought maybe the end of the season or go out on loan for the rest of the season or something like that because I wasn’t playing but I didn’t think I would leave, but it’s happened now.”
He added: “It all happened really quickly, I didn’t really know much of it and then my agent spoke to me and said that Barnsley was interested and then in the next couple of days I signed.”