Junior Firpo’s ‘huge’ salary preventing Leeds United stay — Decision in club’s hands — Leeds Press 8/2/25
by Kris Sanyal
Junior Firpo’s injury was a blow for Leeds United in
December and the team missed his attacking enterprise from the full-back
position. He came back into the starting eleven recently and his hat-trick of
assists against Cardiff City last weekend showed what Leeds were missing. Firpo
will play a key role if Leeds are to get promoted to the Premier League at the
end of the season but there are question marks over his future at Elland Road
beyond that. He is almost certain to leave if the Whites don’t get promoted but
it is unclear whether he will stay if Leeds do get back to the promised land of
the Premier League.
Firpo has resurrected his career at Leeds United over the
last 18 months after he was one of the biggest disappointments in the Premier
League for the Yorkshire giants.
His ability to provide an attacking outlet from left-back
makes him one of the most important players in the Leeds squad and they miss
something offensively when he is not in the team.
Firpo recently returned to the starting eleven following
recovering from a hamstring injury and has made an instant impact by creating
chances and registering assists.
However, there are question marks over his future at Leeds
as the defender’s contract ends in the summer and there is no agreement over a
new deal.
It has been expected if Leeds get promoted, Firpo would be
offered a new deal but it has been claimed that an agreement would not be as
straightforward as it was previously anticipated.
Firpo’s salary is likely to be an issue for Leeds United
Firpo has been a pivotal player for Leeds over the last 18
months but the club are unsure whether he will be at the club next season
regardless of promotion.
It is unclear whether the two sides have met to discuss the
potential of a new deal but nothing is likely to progress until Leeds are sure
which league they are in next season.
However, the Yorkshire giants would be reticent to offer him
a new contract even if they reach the Premier League as Firpo is already on big
wages.
He is currently on a deal worth £30,000 per week, which
makes him one of the top five earners in the Leeds squad and it is a major
issue that needs to be sorted if a new deal has to be offered.
Journalist Graham Baily admitted that it would be a shock if
Leeds offered him a contract anywhere around those numbers and while he is open
to staying, Firpo would have to agree to take a pay cut.
“He’s on a very big contract, so I would be amazed if they
gave him the same contract. But if he is open to staying, I imagine it is a
conversation they will have with the manager to see if he wants to keep him”,
he told LeedUnited.news
“Yeah, he’s done okay, nothing to write home about. If he’s
willing to take a wage drop, I think they might consider it but on the current
terms I can’t see them keeping him.”
Leeds have a decision to make
Firpo has been brilliant this season and will end up playing
a crucial role if Leeds are to get promoted to the Premier League in the coming
months.
However, a new deal is likely dependent on the defender
agreeing to a pay cut and there are also question marks over his suitability
for the top flight.
Leeds fans still have memories of Firpo being bang-average
in the Premier League. His defensive lapses were badly exposed by far
better-quality forwards in the top flight.
Daniel Farke admires the Dominican but he will have a
decision to make whether it is worth offering him a new contract based on what
he did in the last 18 months.
Leeds need to be defensively more secure if they reach the
Premier League and a call needs to be taken if Firpo has improved since the
time the Whites got relegated from the top flight.