Leeds United are monitoring New York Red Bulls wonderkid Julian Hall — and their growing Red Bull ties could give them an edge in the race for one of MLS’s most exciting young talents.

The Details

Meziesblog understands that Leeds have been keeping close tabs on the 18-year-old forward, who has been setting records at every level since bursting onto the scene in MLS.

Hall made his professional debut for the Red Bulls at just 15 years old, becoming the third-youngest player in MLS history and the youngest ever to represent the club.

He followed that up in 2024 by scoring his first league goal and becoming the second-youngest goalscorer in MLS history — behind only Freddy Adu.

Earlier this year, he added another record to his growing collection, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Columbus Crew at just 18 years and 50 days old.

Why Leeds?

While Leeds are not officially part of the Red Bull network, their major sponsorship relationship has created close links behind the scenes. Those connections have helped facilitate checks on Hall — though sources insist the youngster was already on the club’s radar before those ties became relevant.

Leeds spent the summer searching for a striker after sanctioning the exits of Joel Piroe and Joe Gelhardt. But rather than splash out on an established big name who might grow frustrated with limited minutes under Daniel Farke, the 49ers opted to keep their powder dry.

Their plan? Sign a young, upcoming striker to provide cover and competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha. Hall fits that profile perfectly.

The Competition Is Fierce

Leeds aren’t alone in their admiration — not by a long shot.

RB Leipzig are huge admirers and looked closely at Hall during the summer, a move that would make obvious sense given the Red Bull connections between the two clubs.

But the interest extends far beyond Yorkshire and Germany. Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, and Monaco are among the latest European heavyweights to show strong interest in his development.

Closer to home, Aston Villa have had Hall on their list, while Brentford and Brighton — both renowned for identifying elite young talent early — are also major admirers.

And the biggest clubs are circling too. Meziesblog can confirm that City Football Group have carried out work on Hall, while Manchester United and BlueCo — the ownership group behind Chelsea — have also assessed his potential.

As many as seven Premier League clubs are now on his trail.

The New Contract

Hall signed his first professional contract at 15 and has now committed his future to the Red Bulls with a new four-year deal.

The agreement protects New York’s position and locks in Hall’s value — but it has done little to dampen the interest being generated by his outstanding development.

There’s no immediate pressure for the Red Bulls to sell, but his remarkable record and continued growth ensure his name is becoming increasingly familiar to the biggest recruitment departments in Europe.

What’s Next?

Whether a move to Elland Road materialises in January, next summer, or beyond remains to be seen. Plenty of variables could affect the prospects of a deal.

But one thing is clear: Hall has enjoyed an outstanding 2026, scoring 12 goals in 25 appearances, and European clubs are increasingly convinced he has what it takes to make the step into top-level football.

Leeds’ director of football Adam Underwood and his team spend a long time assessing players’ suitability to Farke’s system — both on ability and personality — and Hall appears to tick the boxes.

For now, Leeds wait. But with their Red Bull connections and a clear need for a young striker, this is a name to watch.