Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Stuart Rayner Sometimes the lack of ruthlessness from both Leeds United and Hull City can leave you frustrated but Mateo Joseph produced a killer touch to set his team on the way to a 2-0 home win at Elland Road. As can often be the case there, Leeds had plenty of attacks without working the goalkeeper enough in what had become a very open game in the West Yorkshire sunshine. For all the huff and puff, though, you would not have put your house on someone scoring. When debutant Manor Solomon put a 65th-minute cross over, Leeds' 20-year-old centre-forward decided to do something about it. The cross was heading harmlessly into the Ivor Pandur's arms and as he waited for it, Joseph ran across his man and the Croatian to poke the ball in at the near post. You will never see it on a goal of the month compilation but for a proper No 9 it was a great finish by a player in his first full season of being asked to take real responsibility. Even before his first goal of it, ...

By Stuart Rayner Leeds United have waited until the morning after the transfer window to make perhaps their most important signing of the summer. Forward Willy Gnonto has signed a new four-year deal which the Elland Road club are keen to stress has no release clauses. Gnonto was a bargain £3.8m signing from Swiss side Zurich in the summer of 2022. The plan had been for him to sign in the next window, but Leeds' struggles to buy a centre-forward that season led it to be brought forward, even though with his diminutive stature he is not a natural No 9. Gnonto has gone on to make 78 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals. But the 20-year-old's importance has been amplified by the departures this summer of fellow forwards Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville after Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United respectively activated release clauses in their contracts. After those deals, manager Daniel Farke has spoken often and forcefully about learning t...

Attacker agrees new deal with the Whites. Leeds United are delighted to announce Willy Gnonto has signed a new contract with the club. The Italian international has put pen-to-paper on a new four-year deal, running until the summer of 2028. The 20-year-old has been a constant in the side and an impressive performer for the Whites, since his arrival from FC Zurich in the summer of 2020. Whilst in Switzerland, the former Inter Milan youth star made 70 appearances, gaining important experience at a young age. Gnonto remains the youngest scorer for his national side Italy, having found the net against Germany in a UEFA Nations League qualifier aged 18-years-old. His first appearance for the Whites was in the Premier League, away at Liverpool. Coming off the bench, he provided a debut assist for the winning goal, bringing a run of 81 unbeaten Anfield matches to an end for the hosts. The Italian would finish his first season at Elland Road with four goals and four assists from ...

Leeds United ended the transfer window with two further additions but questions will be asked if it is enough With a little over one week of the transfer window to go and tensions beginning to rise rightfully with a fanbase who had seen over £150m worth of talent leave the club during a summer of upheaval, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke moved to calm the increasingly choppy waters. Pointing to the need in his mind for just four signings and with plenty of time left, Farke spelled out that need which included new wide threats, a midfield addition and defensive cover at full-back. It may have taken until 10:30pm on transfer deadline day as Leeds kept fans nervously waiting (what else would we expect), but as the transfer window ceremonially closed Farke had his men. In Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka and Isaac Schmidt Leeds' board had done the job Farke wanted. To what effect we'll only really know as we approach the next transfer window, but there's no hiding...

Whites secure eighth summer signing. Leeds United are delighted to announce the signing of Isaac Schmidt from Swiss Super League side St. Gallen. The 24-year-old joins the club in a permanent deal, agreeing a four-year contract until the summer of 2028. Offering versatility to Daniel Farke’s side with his ability to play in a number of positions, primarily a full-back, Schmidt can operate on either side of the pitch in defensive areas, as well as further forward. Starting his career with Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland, Schmidt gained experience with the youth side Team Vaud, before progressing into the first team at Stade de la Tuiliere. In 2021 he moved to St. Gallen and had an immediate impact in the first team, making 25 appearances in the top division. Having cemented his place in the side, Schmidt would play a further 63 league matches over the next two seasons, adding goals and assists in that time. The 2024/25 campaign saw the side enter the qualification rounds of th...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United have confirmed that a £2.5m deal for versatile full-back Isaac Schmidt has concluded their summer transfer window activity. The 24-year-old flew into England on deadline day after saying farewell to Swiss Super League side St Gallen with a goal in their Europa Conference League draw with Trabzonspor on Thursday night. Schmidt has signed a four-year contract at Elland Road and is expected to provide back-up and competition for both Junior Firpo and Jayden Bogle, alongside Sam Byram. But Schmidt’s versatility has allowed him to play in almost every outfield position in a career that began with Lausaane-Sport in his native Switzerland. A club statement confirmed the deal and that there will be no further incoming or outgoing business in the final half an hour of the window. Leeds entered the final eight days with a desire to add four players to Daniel Farke’s ranks and Schmidt completes the quartet. A hope of adding a fifth, in an offensive position, d...

Leeds United saw a £25m bid accepted for Dinamoo Zagreb’s Martin Baturina but the 21-year-old has rejected the move, according to Sportske Novosti. Leeds United look set for a busy deadline day with many deals in the works. After already securing Ao Tanaka’s signature, the Whites want more through the door. Over the past few days, the club have been linked with ambitious moves for Gustavo Hamer and Roland Sallai. Isaac Schmidt is one who is also expected to move to Elland Road before the window closes. Despite already signing Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon in the final weeks of the window, Daniel Farke still wants more attacking options. The German has now turned his attention towards a new number 10. According to Sportske Novosti, Leeds United had made a huge move for Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Martin Baturina. The move would have been for a Championship record fee of around £25m. The offer was accepted by the Croatian club, but Baturina has turned down the move. ...

By Joe Donnohue As the transfer window comes to a close it appears as though Leeds United have signed two players in Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon to replace the output of talismanic winger Crysencio Summerville. The Dutchman left Elland Road earlier this summer in a £25 million-plus deal to join West Ham United after his relegation release clause was activated by the Hammers. In doing so, Leeds parted with 19 goals and nine assists achieved during their 90-point campaign last season, which resulted in a play-off final defeat by Southampton at Wembley Stadium. The Whites took their time in replacing 22-year-old Summerville, but have done so with two left-wing options in Ramazani and Solomon. While some might question why two players who ostensibly operate in the same position have been signed to seemingly play the same role, the answer could be simpler than the pair competing for minutes alongside each other. For starters, Solomon arrives on the back of an injury-hit camp...

Kris Smith Leeds United are looking to complete the signings of both Ao Tanaka and Isaac Schimdt today, with the latter flying in to complete a medical. The Whites are primed for a fairly busy end to the window today with at least two deals lined up to be completed. Firstly, an announcement is expected imminently on Ao Tanaka joining from Fortuna Dusseldorf to bolster in midfield, while a full-back is due to follow. It was reported by the YEP that Isaac Schmidt is flying to the UK to complete a move to Elland Road today, off the back of helping St Gallen qualify for the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening with a fine goal: Now, Swiss outlet Blick have uncovered other details about the looming deal between Leeds and St Gallen, initially reported as a £2.5million agreement. Leeds’ signing of Schmidt comes with an unspecified re-sale clause, as well as performance related add-ons in the player’s contract. Such add-ons could see Schmidt’s Leeds agreement cost up to j...

Leeds United are delighted to announce the signing of Ao Tanaka, who joins in a permanent deal from Fortuna Dusseldorf. The Japanese international has signed a four-year-deal at Elland Road, becoming the club’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window. Bringing experience from his time playing in the 2. Bundesliga, Tanaka has also played 27 times for his national team. He represented his country at the 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he scored the winning goal against Spain to send his nation into the knock-out stages of the competition. The 25-year-old began his career with Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 League, before securing a move to Germany with Fortuna Dusseldorf in June 2021. He initially joined on loan, before making the deal permanent the following year. A versatile and energetic midfielder, Tanaka can operate across all areas in the middle of the pitch, including both attacking and defensive positions when required to do so. After ...

By Stuart Rayner Leeds United have been turning a blind eye to some tasty training-ground tackles on Largie Ramazzani to get him up to speed for Championship football. The winger signed from Almeira last week has never experienced Championship football, but with Dan James set to miss Saturday's visit of Hull City, manager Daniel Farke has been trying to assess his readiness. The closest the 23-year-old has come is playing in Manchester United's academy, and for their under-21s at Rotherham United in the Football League Trophy. Since then he has moved up a level, spending two years playing in La Liga after Almeria’s promotion – he even has home and away goals against Real Madrid to brag about. And whilst the Championship cannot match Spain's top division, which Almeira were relegated from last season, for quality it brings its own challenges physically. Leeds have been doing their best to get him up to speed. "It's one of the things where we need to gi...

By Ben McKenna One Leeds United target was in Europa Conference League action on Thursday night Leeds United target Isaac Schmidt scored in what could be his final game for FC St. Gallen as he netted in Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League second leg play-off against Turkish side Trabzonspor. As reported by the YEP on Thursday, Leeds are accelerating with a deal for the full-back ahead of Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline and his involvement for the Swiss side on Thursday night is understood not to be a concern as the Whites aim to wrap up a deal before the window shuts. Schmidt opened the scoring in the play-off tie against Trabzonspor as he found the back of the net after 31 minutes. A goalless first leg saw the sides meet in Turkey with everything to play for and the Leeds target gave his current side the lead when he curled a precise left-footed effort into the far corner from just inside the penalty area. St. Gallen carried that one-goal advantage into the second half ...

Ahead of his side facing Hull City at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, Daniel Farke has spoken with the media at Thorp Arch to preview the match. Coming into the game, both teams are unbeaten in their first three Sky Bet Championship matches, with the Tigers having drawn three in a row, whilst Leeds secured a first win last time out against Sheffield Wednesday. Looking ahead to the Yorkshire derby, the manager gave his thoughts. Farke said: “We need to be focused on this game. We made a major step forward with a top result and also a top class performance against Sheffield Wednesday. We want to do the same again, deliver the same quality of performance and hopefully then also really good result in the home game against Hull, because each and every point counts. “It’s a bit tricky to prepare for Hull because they probably also have some late incomings right now, lots of fluctuation during the summer, many new players in, many outgoing, so they are still in the process to find ...

By Graham Smyth Dainiel Farke has provided the latest news on the Leeds United transfers front. Daniel Farke is tight-lipped on Leeds United's imminent transfer business but has hinted they could yet further strengthen his attacking options. The Whites are closing in on deals for Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf and versatile FC St Gallen full-back Isaac Schmidt, ahead of Friday night's deadline. Tanaka flew to England on Thursday morning and is due for medical tests as a deal in the region of £3.3m nears completion. Talks have been progressing for Schmidt to make the move to Elland Road from the Swiss Super League. And Leeds are hopeful of adding another by the time the window closes. Farke suggests they're still looking at the offensive areas for that signing, but refused to comment on ongoing deals. "I just speak about players who are under contract for us," he said. "As long as players are under contract with other clubs, I never speak about ...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United have just over 24 hours to conclude their transfer business. Leeds United are accelerating their pursuit of full-back cover with a deal for FC St. Gallen’s Isaac Schmidt progressing ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline. Daniel Farke has been keen on defensive additions all summer, having seen Archie Gray, Luke Ayling and Jamie Shackleton leave while on-loan Connor Roberts returned to parent club Burnley. Leeds signed Jayden Bogle from Championship rivals Sheffield United in a deal worth £5million but further cover was also on the list, with Sam Byram currently the only natural back-up on both sides. Elland Road recruitment chiefs have been working on several possible options throughout the summer and now look to have turned focus onto Schmidt. The Telegraph reported on Thursday that talks are continuing with an agreement close, and the YEP understands things are progressing well ahead of the 24-year-old’s possible arrival. St. Gallen are in Europa...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United deny reports the club have offered Dutch forward Joel Piroe as part of a cash-plus-player swap deal in their bid to sign Sheffield United midfielder Gus Hamer. Leeds are keen to supplement their midfield options before the transfer deadline on Friday evening and attempted to poach the Blades talisman with an offer that fell short of his club's valuation and a recently-expired release clause. Leeds are adamant they have not returned to the negotiating table since making their bid. It is claimed by the Sheffield Star that Daniel Farke's side are willing to use 25-year-old Piroe as a makeweight in a deal that could see Hamer join up with former teammate Jayden Bogle, who recently swapped Bramall Lane for Elland Road. Leeds sources, however, dispute this claim, describing the supposed swap deal proposal as untrue. Hamer signed for Chris Wilder's side last summer from Coventry City but was relegated from the Premier League in his first se...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United face a race against time for their incoming signing to be available for Saturday. Leeds United look set for a busy end to the transfer window and hope to soon confirm Ao Tanaka’s arrival from Fortuna Dusseldorf. Tanaka flew over to the UK on Thursday morning with medical tests booked in and hope a deal can be wrapped up before close of play today. Leeds agreed a £3.5million deal with Dusseldorf for the 27-cap Japan international, with Daniel Farke set to land a long-term target of his and fill a major gap in his current squad. There is still plenty to do before Tanaka’s arrival is confirmed but club chiefs hope to conclude the transfer today, leading to questions over when the 25-year-old will make his debut. Leeds host Hull City at Elland Road on Saturday in another massive Championship clash, and the new signing could be involved if things are wrapped up quickly. According to the EFL handbook: “A Player will only be eligible to play in a match ...

Forward arrives at Elland Road. Leeds United are pleased to announce the arrival of Manor Solomon from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year-old moves to Elland Road from North London, joining the Whites on a season-long loan deal. Beating off competition from a number of top-flight sides across Europe for his signature, the deliberate strategy of remaining patient in the transfer window has paid dividends, with the club able to act quickly to secure the services of a player who only became available in recent days. Starting his professional career in his country of birth, with Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Petah Tikva, Solomon was snapped up by Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2019. A tricky attacker who can play through the middle or on the wing, he enjoyed great success with the Ukrainian outfit domestically, helping the club win the Ukrainian Premier League twice, along with the Ukrainian Cup and Ukrainian Super Cup. He also featured in th...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United say the season-long loan signing of Manor Solomon from Tottenham Hotspur is a reward for their 'patient' summer transfer window strategy. The Whites have made the 25-year-old the first of what they hope will be at least a trio of signings in the final week of the window before Friday night's deadline, and claim they warded off interest in the attacker from European top-flight sides. Leeds' summer recruitment drive has been, to date, a slow build. A full month passed between the £5m transfer of Jayden Bogle and last week's £10m capture of Largie Ramazani from UD Almería. But Leeds insist their plan has been to wait for the right calibre of player to become available at the end of the window, to complete Daniel Farke's squad. A club statement said: "Leeds United are pleased to announce the arrival of Manor Solomon from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year-old moves to Elland Road from North London, joining th...

Leeds United open talks with Fortuna Dusseldorf over a deal for Japan international Ao Tanaka, with Championship club ready to trigger release clause of £2.65m Leeds United have started talks with Fortuna Dusseldorf over Ao Tanaka The Japan international midfielder has a release clause of £2.65million By Jeorge Bird Leeds United have opened talks with Fortuna Dusseldorf for midfielder Ao Tanaka. The Japan international is understood to have a release clause of £2.65million and Leeds have made contact over the last 24 hours. The 25-year old could fly to England this evening if terms can be finalised swiftly. Tanaka has 37 caps for his country and is a close friend of Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma. He was the subject of interest from Leeds last summer also. Daniel Farke's club have been looking to bolster their midfield since selling Glen Kamara to Rennes. They have made offers for Sheffield United's Gus Hamer and Cologne's Dejan Lubijic while also discussing...

Better than MaxWritten by: Chris McMenamy Brenden Aaronson is Leeds United’s top goalscorer after three games. If he continues this form, he’ll score 31 goals this season. That’s a solid way of seeking absolution for previous sins, and a much better approach than his teammate Max Wöber has taken. It’s still jarring to see Aaronson in a Leeds jersey. Out of the eight loan rats who scuttled off last summer, only Rasmus Kristensen seemed likely to return. And that was because he’s useless. Wöber and Aaronson’s return felt like their admission of mediocrity, that they weren’t good enough to make it elsewhere. Their stories seemed destined to end with 35,000 people telling them that they’re not fit to wear the shirt. After all, they abandoned the club in its moment of need like the rest of them. It was hard to see a way back for them when they returned this summer. All we had to evidence Aaronson’s intentions were some vague fluff pieces about how he wanted to “prove” himself, while...

The ref might have been tempted to follow Daniel Farke around with his card ready if smug eyebrows were against the rules of the game. The easiest way to put right a bad game of football is by playing a good game of football, so Leeds went off to Hillsborough with a choice. Daniel Farke took pleasure in the stabilising effect of last week's goalless, chanceless, flavourless draw at the Hawthorns — stabilising for his team, even if it loosened hinges among the fans — and he might have been tempted, taking another away trip with the same squad, to go through the same routine and face down the complaints afterwards. Get a clean sheet. Get a point. Get Pascal Struijk on the ball. Point to new signings in the stands and others in private jets and promise it'll all get better later, that promotion will still be there when we're ready for it. I don't know how much of Friday was all Farke, or whether we should be saying a big Bank Holiday thank you to Sheffield Wednesday an...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United look set for a busy end to the window and have made their move on a new target. Leeds United have made a surprise late-summer move for Gustavo Hamer with reports suggesting they submitted a £13million bid for the Sheffield United midfielder. Daniel Farke is keen to welcome more midfield quality through the door at Elland Road before Friday’s transfer deadline, following Glen Kamara’s £8m move to Stade Rennais. Joe Rothwell arrived on a season-long loan from Bournemouth but Leeds need another body in there and would like an option with similar or greater attacking threat. Hamer would certainly provide that, having already registered two goals and an assist in Sheffield United’s first three Championship fixtures. And Leeds look to have shown their hand regarding the Dutchman, with The Star reporting on a £13m formal offer. They add that Sheffield United have rejected the bid outright, believing it to be ‘a million miles away’ from their valuation -...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United look to be facing renewed interest in their defender. Max Wober’s Leeds United future has been cast into doubt once again as reports in Germany link him with a return to Borussia Monchengladbach. Wober returned from a season-long loan spell at Monchengladbach this summer, having been one of several to force a temporary exit following relegation from the Premier League. The 26-year-old impressed in Germany and had been tipped to return permanently, but Leeds stood firm on their eight-figure valuation and looked set to keep their man on board. Despite his pre-season involvement and presence in the Leeds squad this month, speculation surrounding Wober’s future has not gone away and Sky Sports Germany now suggest a late move could be on the cards. They claim the Austrian is in talks with former loan club Gladbach and ‘can well imagine’ playing for them again, with no place in Daniel Farke’s first-team as things stand. Wober’s only start came in the 3...

Will Butcher Leeds United were strongly linked with a move to re-sign Jack Clarke from Sunderland earlier this month but the winger has chosen to join newly-promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. Clarke, 23, was widely-renowned as one of the best wingers in The Championship prior to his exit from Sunderland. Clocking up 51 goals in 114 games for Sunderland, he helped them return to the second tier. Sunderland have made an excellent start to life in the Championship, with two wins and two clean sheets from the opening two games against Cardiff and then Sheffield Wednesday in which Clarke played both. But he was missing from the weekend’s 1-0 with over Burnley, even with Sunderland going down to 10 men on 85 minutes. Clarke completed a move to Ipswich, costing an initial £15m plus £5m in add-ons. It was clear that Leeds would always have to pay £20m to sign Clarke, with Clarke described as the perfect replacement for Crysencio Summerville. But he has ended up at Ipswich and...

By Lee Sobot A Leeds United stalwart looks set to sign for a Championship rival. Former Whites captain Liam Cooper has reportedly agreed a deal to sign for one of Leeds United’s Championship rivals. The promotion-winning Leeds skipper has become a free agent this summer upon his Leeds contract expiring and boss Daniel Farke confirmed in pre-season that the centre-back was not part of the group he was working with. Cooper has been linked with moves to several other Championship sides and has now reportedly agreed a deal to re-join former club Hull City in the final week of the summer transfer window. According to BBC Humberside, Cooper - whose departure has not yet been announced by Leeds - was seen sitting in Tigers owner Acun Ilicali’s private box for Saturday afternoon’s Championship clash against Millwall.

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Friday night’s derby at Sheffield Wednesday. Leeds United were well worth their win at Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night as Willy Gnonto relished the freedom of Hillsborough. The Italian international was Leeds' star man in the 2-0 victory and the license he had to roam and pick up unusual positions played a key part in his influence. There were good days for others in the Whites squad, but it was a collective performance that brought three points and sent the away end back up the M1 singing. Here's the YEP take. Good day Daniel Farke Grumbles soon become noise in these parts, especially when the backdrop is transfer-related discontent. A difficult start to the season could have been made to look much worse at Hillsborough but the performance was exactly what we needed. The introduction of Aaronson for Piroe made Leeds look slicker in possession. This was exactly what the manager wanted and needed.   B...