How Leeds United really feel about Adam Underwood and Robbie Evans after deadline day disaster — Leeds United News 3/9/25

Adam Elliott

The 49ers and their recruitment team signed 10 players for Leeds United, which includes Adam Underwood, Robbie Evans, and Alex Davies.

James Justin became the final signing of Leeds United’s summer, with attacking additions after August 25 proving to be elusive for the 49ers to bolster Daniel Farke’s ranks.

Following a strong start to the window, Leeds had seven new additions by July 26. It was an outstanding start, in spite of failed pursuits of Habib Diarra and Igor Paixao, with Adam Underwood’s role detailed within that.

It left the club with more than five weeks to finish off the squad. However, there were 20 days between Lucas Perri coming in and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and signings were not going at all according to plan.

The final pieces of the puzzle in attack saw Noah Okafor sign, but it was Justin who added depth at full-back as their final addition. Facundo Buonanotte fell through, while Fulham blocked Harry Wilson’s deadline day move.

How Leeds’ hierarchy felt heading into the transfer window

Farke made it clear, following the Newcastle United draw, that he wanted two more signings to finish off his team. One may have been sufficient, but neither Buonanotte, nor Wilson, nor another alternative to either was found.

It leaves Leeds fans frustrated at the 49ers — and for good reason. Landing Wilson or Buonanotte would not have made it a perfect ending, but it would have saved face and given them more than a fighting chance of survival.

Beren Cross of The Athletic has broken down the situation, explaining that the key decision-makers in the hierarchy “knew how they would be perceived” internally and externally after addressing Farke’s future at the back-end of the 2024/25 season.

For each of managing director Robbie Evans, sporting director Underwood, and head of recruitment Alex Davies — they had never held such senior positions during a summer transfer window. It was a chance for them to prove their worth.

After a strong start, things were looking promising. However, Cross states that they knew they had a lot to prove. They knew “it would be easy for the outside world to pick holes in any of the failures they would oversee.”

It’s said that they were also confident in their own abilities in those roles and backed themselves to get it right. They grafted through each of their respective careers to get to this point and felt they were more than prepared.

It’s said that Paraag Marathe values Underwood’s loyalty to the club, “both in length of service and in rejecting top flight advances over the years.”

Not only is he regarded highly by Marathe and co. but Angus Kinnear wanted to take him to Everton, though not in a recruitment role. Nick Hammond, who joined Kinnear, had highlighted Underwood’s promise as a potential sporting director 12 months earlier.

In spite of the late failures, Marathe backed the new-look recruitment department, new hires, and internal promotions of the new regime to work in tandem with the experienced Farke.

Evans, Underwood, Davies, and co. “knew they had a lot to prove” — the question is whether they proved it? Time will tell in terms of how the season unfolds now for Leeds and Farke.

A more streamlined process at Leeds

Leeds United News sources have previously outlined a more streamlined approach this summer to previous campaigns.

That is, in part, thanks to the changes behind the scenes with a smaller team but also the people currently occupying the most vital roles — such as Underwood’s role alongside Farke.

Cross also intimated similar in his latest report, stating: “During their time as a Championship club, sources at Leeds talked up the authority Farke had as manager on transfers.

“Post-promotion, the process has been described as more collegial, with every signing requiring agreement from Farke, scouts, strategy, planning, and finance.”

Even with some bumps and without an extra creative player signed, Leeds have recruited well. However, above all, they have a more cohesive structure in place than the previous regime prior to the 49ers’ arrival.