# Leroy Lita
**Leroy Lita** (Leroy Halirou Bohari Lita, born 1984 in Kinshasa, then Zaire, now the [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://www.edgepedia.org/democratic-republic-of-the-congo)) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker, most prominently for Bristol City, Reading, and [Middlesbrough](https://www.edgepedia.org/middlesbrough), and who now works as assistant manager of Sunderland's under-21 side[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975) • [2](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/arrest-warrant-issued-for-former-sunderland-afc-coach-after-failure-to-turn-up-at-court-8880223). Born in the Congo and raised in England, he represented England at under-21 level, winning 9 caps and scoring 6 goals[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Leroy Halirou Bohari Lita, 1984, Kinshasa (then Zaire); English citizenship[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975) |
| Position | Centre-forward, right-footed[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975) |
| Breakthrough | 29 goals for Bristol City in 2004-05, sold to Reading in July 2005 for £1 million at age 21[3](https://www.inkl.com/news/bristol-city-flashback-teen-talents-emerge-for-robins-as-brian-tinnion-marks-milestone) |
| Major honor | Championship title with Reading, 2005/06[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/23286/leroy-lita) |
| Premier League | 7 goals in 33 appearances for Reading in 2006-07[5](https://fbref.com/en/players/238f467d/Leroy-Lita) |
| England U21 | 9 caps, 6 goals[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975) |
| Playing span | Bristol City debut era 2002 to retirement on 1 July 2025, last club Barwell[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975) |
| Current role | Assistant manager, Sunderland U21[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975) |
## Bristol City
Lita developed through the youth set-up at Ashton Gate, joining it at a relatively advanced age after having been on Chelsea's books[3](https://www.inkl.com/news/bristol-city-flashback-teen-talents-emerge-for-robins-as-brian-tinnion-marks-milestone). Already a regular in the Bristol City squad, he signed his first professional contract in March 2003, extending his stay at the club to June 2006[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/leroy-lita-19430/).
His first-team introduction came under manager Danny Wilson, who was determined not to demand too much too soon from Lita and fellow teenager [Liam Rosenior](https://www.edgepedia.org/liam-rosenior), both of whom made their early appearances from the bench. In a Second Division match at Huddersfield Town in March 2003, Lita came on for the injured Lee Peacock with barely more than 10 minutes to play; the local press described the two teenagers as "precocious teenagers" whose "speed and vision" made them "truly exciting talents"[3](https://www.inkl.com/news/bristol-city-flashback-teen-talents-emerge-for-robins-as-brian-tinnion-marks-milestone).
**The 2004-05 season** was his breakout. Under Brian Tinnion, Lita scored 29 goals for the Robins, and Bristol City sold him to Reading the following summer for £1 million when he was just 21[3](https://www.inkl.com/news/bristol-city-flashback-teen-talents-emerge-for-robins-as-brian-tinnion-marks-milestone). The transfer was completed on 14 July 2005[7](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/5026/leroy-lita).
## Reading and the Premier League
Lita joined Reading in July 2005 on a three-year contract[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/leroy-lita-19430/). In his first season there he scored 11 goals in 26 league appearances as Reading won the Championship and reached the Premier League for the first time[5](https://fbref.com/en/players/238f467d/Leroy-Lita) • [4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/23286/leroy-lita).
In the 2006-07 Premier League season, Reading's first in the top flight, Lita made 33 league appearances and scored 7 goals[5](https://fbref.com/en/players/238f467d/Leroy-Lita). He had a promising start to the campaign, netting the winner at home to Middlesbrough on the opening day in a 3-2 win[8](https://www.margatefootballclubhistory.com/players-profile/?player=Leroy_Lita&profile=1111).
His time at Reading also produced one of the more unusual entries in the annals of football injuries. Trapped nerve after a morning stretch: the striker trapped a nerve in his leg and missed the opening three games of a season after a morning stretch. Reading manager [Steve Coppell](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-coppell) said at the time, "It's not an injury that should be ridiculed"[9](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/footballers-who-suffered-ridiculous-injuries).
In 2007-08, his final Reading season, he made 10 Premier League appearances and scored once, and had a short loan at Charlton Athletic in the Championship[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/leroy-lita-19430/).
## Middlesbrough, Swansea, and the loan years
Lita signed for Middlesbrough in August 2009 on a three-year contract[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/leroy-lita-19430/). He spent two years on Teesside and was regarded as a solid addition to the front line, scoring 20 Football League goals for the club, the same number he had recorded for Reading[10](https://the72.co.uk/2022/10/28/whats-former-bristol-city-and-reading-striker-leroy-lita-up-to-these-days/) • [3](https://www.inkl.com/news/bristol-city-flashback-teen-talents-emerge-for-robins-as-brian-tinnion-marks-milestone).
On 3 August 2011 he moved to Swansea City for £1.8 million[7](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/5026/leroy-lita). His Swansea spell consisted largely of loan moves: Birmingham City (September to November 2012, 3 goals in 10 appearances), Sheffield Wednesday (January to June 2013, 6 goals in 17 appearances), Brighton & Hove Albion (October 2013 to January 2014), and a permanent free-transfer move to Barnsley in August 2014, followed by a loan to Notts County in March 2015[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/23286/leroy-lita) • [6](https://www.11v11.com/players/leroy-lita-19430/).
## Later career
After leaving Barnsley in 2015, Lita's career took him through a long series of clubs in England and abroad: AO Chania in Greece (July 2015 to February 2016), Yeovil Town (March to June 2016), Sisaket in Thailand's top flight (2017, 5 goals in 21 appearances), Chelmsford City (2019-20), Nuneaton Borough (2020-21 and again from August 2023), Hednesford Town (2022-23), and finally Barwell[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/23286/leroy-lita) • [8](https://www.margatefootballclubhistory.com/players-profile/?player=Leroy_Lita&profile=1111). Transfermarkt records his retirement as of 1 July 2025, with Barwell his last club[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975).
Across his Football League career, statistical databases credit him with 38 Championship goals in 136 appearances, 3 Premier League goals in 31 appearances, and 2 League One goals in 25 appearances, among other competitions[11](https://footystats.org/players/england/leroy-lita).
## England Under-21
Lita was an England Under-21 international. His recorded under-21 matches include a February 2005 defeat to the Netherlands, a 3-1 win over Norway in February 2006, and, in 2007, draws with Spain and Italy, a 5-0 win over Slovakia, and the UEFA Under-21 Championship finals group matches against the Czech Republic, Italy, and Serbia, followed by the semi-final against the Netherlands, which England lost on penalties[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/leroy-lita-19430/). Transfermarkt credits him with 9 caps and 6 goals at that level[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975).
## Coaching and legal issues
After his playing career, Lita moved into coaching. He worked as a professional development coach with young players at Sunderland's Academy of Light, and Transfermarkt lists him as assistant manager of Sunderland U21[2](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/arrest-warrant-issued-for-former-sunderland-afc-coach-after-failure-to-turn-up-at-court-8880223) • [1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975).
In June 2026, Lita admitted a drink-driving offense before South Tyneside Magistrates Court, receiving an 18-month driving ban, a £777 fine, a £311 victim surcharge, and £300 in costs. In August 2026, an arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear at York Magistrates Court; the reporting judge had earlier warned that driving while disqualified could lead to a jail term[2](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/arrest-warrant-issued-for-former-sunderland-afc-coach-after-failure-to-turn-up-at-court-8880223).
## Physical profile
Sources disagree on Lita's height: [Sky Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-sports) lists 1.70 m[7](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/5026/leroy-lita), FBref lists 175 cm[5](https://fbref.com/en/players/238f467d/Leroy-Lita), and Transfermarkt lists 1.76 m[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975). All agree he was right-footed and played as a forward[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975) • [4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/23286/leroy-lita).
## References
1. [Leroy Lita - Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/leroy-lita/profil/spieler/20975)
2. [Arrest warrant issued for former Sunderland AFC coach after failure to turn up at court, Sunderland Echo](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/arrest-warrant-issued-for-former-sunderland-afc-coach-after-failure-to-turn-up-at-court-8880223)
3. [Bristol City flashback: Teen talents emerge for Robins, Bristol Post via Inkl](https://www.inkl.com/news/bristol-city-flashback-teen-talents-emerge-for-robins-as-brian-tinnion-marks-milestone)
4. [Leroy Lita - stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/players/23286/leroy-lita)
5. [Leroy Lita Stats, Goals, Records, FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/238f467d/Leroy-Lita)
6. [Leroy Lita Football Player Statistics, 11v11](https://www.11v11.com/players/leroy-lita-19430/)
7. [Leroy Lita Player Profile, Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/5026/leroy-lita)
8. [Leroy Lita - Margate FC Players History](https://www.margatefootballclubhistory.com/players-profile/?player=Leroy_Lita&profile=1111)
9. [Footballers who suffered ridiculous injuries, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/footballers-who-suffered-ridiculous-injuries)
10. [What's former Bristol City and Reading striker Leroy Lita up to these days?, The72](https://the72.co.uk/2022/10/28/whats-former-bristol-city-and-reading-striker-leroy-lita-up-to-these-days/)
11. [Leroy Lita Stats, FootyStats](https://footystats.org/players/england/leroy-lita)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › English footballers 2005–2014*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license