Karl Darlow is a top, top goalkeeper at Championship level, of that there can be little doubt.
He began his professional career at Nottingham Forest but was initially loaned out. However, he managed to displace Lee Camp as the first-choice keeper in January 2013, making 20 league appearances that season. Despite the arrival of Dorus de Vries, Darlow established himself as manager Billy Davies's preferred goalkeeper in the following season, earning praise from fans and experts. His impressive performances caught the attention of Premier League club Newcastle United, leading to a move in 2017.
After a brief loan back to Nottingham Forest, Darlow made his debut for Newcastle in a League Cup match against Northampton Town on 25 August 2015. He later debuted in the Premier League against West Bromwich Albion on 28 December 2015, stepping in for the regular keeper due to an illness. Following an injury to the regular keeper, Rob Elliot, while on international duty, Darlow took over the goalkeeping duties for Newcastle's final eight matches of the season as they fought to avoid relegation.
The 2016-17 season saw Darlow compete with Matz Sels for the starting position in the Championship season. He eventually became the club's first-choice goalkeeper under Rafael Benítez, helping Newcastle win promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship. However, in the 2017-18 season, Darlow and Rob Elliot vied for the role of the first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League, but they both lost their places when Martin Dúbravka was signed on loan in January 2018.
During the 2018-19 season, Darlow found himself as the second-choice goalkeeper behind Dúbravka. He made his sole appearance of the season in the EFL Cup, a 3-1 defeat against his former club Nottingham Forest on 29 August 2018.
In January 2023, Darlow joined Hull City on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season from Newcastle United. The move was seen as a significant coup for Hull, given their mid-table position. However, Hull's hopes of securing Darlow permanently were hindered by his lucrative contract at Newcastle, which had one more year to run.
There had been considerable interest in Darlow from other clubs as well, but a move to Leeds seemed particularly suitable. Leeds had been in need of an experienced goalkeeper, especially after Illan Meslier's challenging season, which contributed to the club's relegation to the Championship. While it remains uncertain whether Meslier will stay at Leeds or move on, the addition of Darlow's experience in the squad is a reassuring prospect for the upcoming season.