Talking in Rio Ferdinand’s podcast Lennon revealed that he earned £10,000 for each appearance and £100,000 after every five senior games. His comments left Ferdinand stunned.
Aaron Lennon: “Mine was done quite ruthlessly. Ken Bates came in and to be fair to him I didn’t understand at the time but my contract was good. It was £5,000-a-week, as soon as turned pro, and £10,000 an appearance. The incentives were crazy. It was like every time I played five games I would get £100k. At that time I signed, I was 14. So they are thinking he isn’t going to play, there was no money in it unless you played.
“But then I started breaking in. My contract was silly looking back. It was crazy numbers and they were thinking he won’t play. But then I started playing. I was on the bench and they couldn’t put me on because I was going to hit one of those appearances”. Rio Ferdinand responded: “No way!”
“Yeah, I remember Gary Kelly going mad and saying our best player is on the bench now. Our most in-form winger is on the bench. I was just sat there and Leeds fans were singing my name. But eventually he put me on because it got that bad with the fans singing my name they had to put me on.
“I think this is the first time it might have come out. I remember at the end of the season Ken Bates told me you are done at this club. Because of the money. It wasn’t even in a nice way. And I was like this is my home town. I was upset and I remember going away and got the call saying they have accepted a bid, you are going to Tottenham” Lennon said.