Posh’s million pound man

Peterborough United ended deadline day on a high with the signing of striker Harry Leonard for a seven-figure fee from Blackburn Rovers on a four-year contract. 

Photo Credit : Joe Dent / Peterborough United

Who is he? 

The 21-year-old has been around the Blackburn first team since he was 18, and viewed as one of their top academy prospects. 

His most successful season was 2023/24, when he scored four goals in 22 appearances. 

The last 18 months have been challenging for Leonard, as he has battled a wave of unfortunate injuries, fracturing his back and dislocating his shoulder challenging for a ball in training. 

The key to success? 

Posh’s search for a striker has been well-documented over the summer. 

Gustav Lindgren and Bradley Ihionvien have failed to impress, with Posh managing just one goal from open play in their opening six league games. 

Initially reported as a loan move, this seven-figure transfer is a real statement of ambition from Darragh MacAnthony, who has been confident of Posh’s fortunes drastically improving soon. 

Leonard has clear quality, and if he can stay fit, will drastically improve Posh’s forward line. 

The business model 

MacAnthony has been vocal in his intention to start producing big striker sales again. 

Posh have got by on the sales of goal-scoring number nines during the DMAC era, with Ivan Toney the most recent significant example. 

However, in recent years, Posh have been unable to make that landmark forward sale, instead relying upon selling players throughout the spine of their team for smaller fees. 

Harry Leonard could be the next star striker off the Posh production line. 

Price-tag pressure 

Leonard is just the fifth seven-figure forward in Posh’s history. 

He follows in the footsteps of some disappointing purchases, such as Tyrone Barnett and Mo Eisa.

But there have been some huge successes too. 

Britt Assombalonga, signed for £1.1m+ in 2023, scored 23 goals in just 43 games for Posh and was sold on for £5.5m+ to Nottingham Forest just a year later. 

Jonson Clarke-Harris won the League One golden boot twice, after signing for just over a million, helping the club to promotion, becoming captain and gaining legend status. 

Leonard will be hoping to live up to his price tag the same way Assombalonga and JCH did. His four-year deal gives him plenty of time to do that.

Verdict 

It is frustrating that Posh have played six games of the League One season without a decent striker, however I am delighted that we have spent this kind of cash on one.

He is young, and appears a good fit for the system. 

A lot of Blackburn fans are disappointed to see him go, with many tipping him to be top quality in League One. 

Leonard comes in and immediately becomes our first-choice striker. It is time to draw a line under the Lindgren experiment.

His injury record is a slight concern, particularly given the bad luck Posh have recently had with new signings being sidelined for long spells. However, hopefully a thorough medical will negate this risk. 

I am really optimistic that Leonard will be a big success for us, and am very excited by his arrival.