Mighty Leeds Weblog

Walking the plank Written by: Rob Conlon We’ve had a long time to prepare for Pascal Struijk leaving Leeds United. Speaking to ESPN Netherlands in January, Struijk revealed he “had some options to leave” last summer and, “from my side, there was something I would have liked to do — but that didn’t happen.” Later, when Leeds’ safety was secured, The Athletic reported that Leeds received an offer for Struijk last August they would have been tempted to accept had it not been so close to the end of the transfer window and left them scrambling around for a replacement. So perhaps Struijk’s exit has been pencilled into the accounting books ever since. Had both the player and the club had their heads turned and eyes opened at the sums available? Leeds’ statement on the official website confirming his move to Brighton contradicts itself. On one hand, the club wanted him to stay and offered him ‘a significantly improved contract’. On the other, Paraag Marathe has warned us there were goin...

By Kyle Newbould Pascal Struijk’s decision to join Brighton was impacted by talks with former Leeds United teammate Georginio Rutter. Struijk signed a five-year deal at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday following the agreement of a £20million deal with Leeds. Elland Road chiefs will receive an initial £18m, with another £2m of potential add-ons and the insertion of a sell-on clause. His sale before the June 30 accounting deadline helped keep the Whites from breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Fresh contract terms were on the table for Struijk, whose previous Leeds deal expired in 2027, but his decision was to seek a new challenge elsewhere. At Brighton, he will reunite with Rutter, the pair spending 18 months together at Elland Road before the attacking midfielder’s £40m move to the south coast in 2024. "Of course, I know Georgie," Struijk told Sussex World. "I've seen some stuff about the group and Georgie has told me a lot of stories, which I'm ...

Struijk leaves Elland Road after eight years James Smailes Head of All Out Rugby League and Yorkshire sport at Reach plc Pascal Struijk's eight-year tenure at Leeds United has officially ended with the defender completing a move to fellow Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion. Out of contract next summer, Struijk turned down a new offer this summer from Leeds and instructed the club of his decision to fly the nest having arrived at Elland Road as an 18-year-old in 2018. Due to his great service and the manner of how the negotiations have gone, Leeds have worked with the Dutchman to facilitate an exit this summer, with the Whites selling Struijk to Brighton for an undisclosed fee. Leeds Live understands the Whites will receive £18m up front, with add-ons potentially lifting the deal to £20m, while a sell-on clause has been added to the contract. It's also been confirmed Leeds needed to complete the deal before the end of June to ensure the club complied with this ...

Leeds United are seemingly on the verge of agreeing a deal that would see a key member of their squad leave Elland Road this summer Mark Wakefield Sport Central Audience Writer Leeds United are reportedly close to confirming the departure of defender Pascal Struijk with a deal agreed with Premier League rivals Brighton. United are gearing up for another busy summer of transfer business as they look ahead to the new campaign, which gets underway in August. Daniel Farke and Co. will already have an eye on their plans for the summer transfer window, but Leeds now look set to lose one of their key players. The Athletic have reported that Leeds have reached a verbal agreement with Brighton that would see Struijk swap Elland Road for the Amex Stadium. It has been reported that United have agreed a fee worth £20million for Struijk to leave Leeds this summer and join Brighton, who will be competing in the UEFA Conference League next season. The report goes on to claim that, with ...

Mark Whiley Sports Reporter Marcelo Bielsa lost his cool in a post-match interview after brutally hooking off a Uruguay legend during the country's humiliating World Cup exit. After draws with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, Uruguay needed to at least avoid defeat against Spain to have a chance of going through to the knockout stage. A desperate tournament for the South Americans went from bad to worse in the 42nd minute when a tame effort from Alex Baena slipped through the grasp of iconic keeper Fernando Muslera, the 40-year-old who came out of retirement ahead of the tournament at Bielsa's request. However, Muslera probably wishes he hadn't answered the former Leeds United manager's plea as he faced the ignominy of being taken off at half-time. Bielsa also took off Federico Valverde in the second half and Uruguay couldn't find a leveller as they limped out of the tournament with just two points. After the match, as he waited to conduct his post-match inter...

The independent chair of the Leeds United Supporters Advisory Board, Jane Dowson, has provided the update below as her SAB Annual Report for the 2025/26 season: Over the past year, the Leeds United Supporter Advisory Board (SAB) has continued to grow as an important link between supporters and the club’s leadership. This review reflects a year of real progress in supporter engagement and stadium planning, alongside some ongoing challenges that matter to fans. The first thing I would like to do is thank all the members of the SAB. Those nominated through supporter groups: Josh Cawthorne from the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust, formerly Paul McManus and now John Mann from the Leeds United Supporters Club, Dean Pearson from the Leeds United Supporters Network, Maz Ferguson from Marching Out Together, Anders Palm from Leeds United Supporters Club of Scandinavia, and Michelle Draper from the Disability Advisory Group. I would also like to thank the independent members, who are there to ...

Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Leeds United capturing Harry Wilson would be a coup, but maybe an expected coup. It’s worth remembering that the attacker signed terms on deadline day last summer before Fulham pulled the plug late on denying him a switch to Elland Road. Nevertheless, Leeds arguably had a tougher task to get him through the door this time around. Sure, while Fulham offered him a new contract, the Cottagers could not shield Wilson behind lock and key given his soon-to-be-free agent status. But other clubs were sniffing around Wilson, with mention that some Champions League outfits were taking a look. How far they ventured is unknown but they look to have lost out to Leeds, completed medical dependent. Wilson is set to join a sizeable Welsh cohort at Leeds with Joe Rodon, Daniel James and Ethan Ampadu - who recently signed a new contract - all countrymen as is Karl Darlow, who is in renewal talks with the club. Jayden Lienou and Charlie Crew, who have both fe...

The age of opulence Written by: Rob Conlon Having been warned that signings would likely have to wait until after the World Cup, the cogs of Leeds United’s summer transfer window have slowly started whirring in the last week. But enough about Alex Cairns agreeing a new contract. Discussions continue with Southampton after a £20m bid was rejected for Shea Charles. Harry Wilson is due to join on a free transfer and complete his Dan James arc following the collapse of a move on deadline day last year. And most eye-catchingly of all, another free agent, Julian Brandt, has emerged as Leeds’ most ambitious target so far. In The Athletic’s report on Leeds’ interest in Brandt, their German football writer Seb Stafford-Bloor urged caution. Form and fitness issues have often prevented Brandt from reaching the levels of superstar consistency expected from him when he joined Borussia Dortmund from Bayer Leverkusen for €25m in 2019. Two years earlier, Jurgen Klopp wanted to sign him for Liver...

Wales international Wilson is currently on 69 caps for his country ByNizaar Kinsella, Football reporter and Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds reporter Leeds have agreed a four-year contract with Fulham attacker Harry Wilson to become their first signing of the summer on a free transfer. The 29-year-old Wales international is out of contract next week, although the move remains subject to a medical and the formal signing of terms in the coming days. It would represent a major coup for the Yorkshire club if completed. They faced competition from Premier League rivals for his signature. Wilson has been a long-term target for Leeds, who attempted to sign him on deadline day last summer before the move collapsed. His departure would be a significant blow to Fulham, who offered their player of the season several contracts in an attempt to keep him. He registered 11 goals and eight assists in 38 appearances in all competitions last season - an average of one goal involvement every othe...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United could pursue legal action following a surprise Everton judgement. Leeds United are considering legal action against a former Championship promotion rival in the wake of a shock recent judgement. Leicester City pipped Leeds to automatic promotion in the 2023/24 campaign, Daniel Farke’s first in charge at Elland Road. Under Enzo Maresca, the Foxes finished top of the Championship with Leeds falling short of them and Ipswich Town despite racking up an impressive 90 points. The Whites went on to lose the play-off final against Southampton. In February, Leicester were docked six points by the EFL after being found guilty of breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in the three years up to 2023/24. That deduction eventually played a role in their relegation to League One. Leeds could now take action of their own after learning of the outcome in a similar case. The YEP understands a Times report suggesting the club are considering legal op...

Smile for the camera Written by: Chris McMenamy Scanning through the fixtures for this year’s World Cup, I tried to be methodical in picking out the games I actually wanted to watch. Staying up past 2am on a Saturday to watch Scotland vs Haiti was a no-go, but hanging on until 11pm on a Monday night for Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay was a no-brainer. Eight years to the day since Leeds United hired him and a three-year rollercoaster ride began, I wasn’t expecting to see Bielsaball or Tyler Roberts, but I just wanted to catch a glimpse of the great man on the world stage. Even if it ended in a 1-1 draw and I could have just had a couple of hours longer in bed and watched it in the morning, it was still worth it — I think. Uruguay faced a Saudi Arabia side once again underestimated by many despite having beaten eventual winners Argentina at the last World Cup — and yet still many were shocked when goalkeeper Fernando Muslera fumbled a save right into the path of Abdulelah Al Amri to gi...

A bad state Written by: Rob Conlon On the same day Germany kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 7-1 trouncing of Curacao, Anton Stach was sharing his latest YouTube video of him playing darts against a Leeds fan on his Instagram stories. Playing darts and generally being good company off the pitch has been enough to earn the likes of Conor Coady a place in a World Cup squad in the past, but Stach’s snubbing from Germany manager Julian Naglesmann meant he was watching from home — no doubt one eye on his Instagram notifications — as Lukas Nmecha’s little brother Felix set the former champions on their way with the opening goal against the smallest nation to ever qualify. It set the tone for a weekend of embracing the most tenuous Leeds United links to ignite a personal interest in the tournament. A Scotland shirt bearing the Billy Bremner quote “side before self every time” on the inside of the collar was about as good as it got. Brenden Aaronson didn’t get off the bench in t...

By Kyle Newbould The Leeds United goalkeeper's exit was confirmed last week with his contract expiring this summer. Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier insists the club and city will remain a part of who he is following this summer’s exit. The club confirmed last week that Meslier would depart Elland Road following the expiration of his contract, calling time on a seven-year spell. The Frenchman joined from FC Lorient in 2019 and went on to be a Championship title-winner and Premier League regular under Marcelo Bielsa. Meslier’s last few years at Leeds have been difficult, however, with the 26-year-old dropped by Sam Allardyce on the way to relegation before a litany of errors saw him replaced by Karl Darlow last season. The shot-stopper didn’t play a single game during the 2025/26 campaign, sitting behind Darlow and Lucas Perri. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Meslier wrote: “I just wanted to take a moment to send this farewell message to every single Leeds United fa...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United have published their retained list and remain in talks over the futures of three of Daniel Farke's first team squad members. The Whites began their post-season business with the news that captain Ethan Ampadu had signed a new four-year deal. Ampadu's contract was due to expire in the summer of 2027, though the club did hold an option for a further year. Leeds have followed that with their retained list, which confirms who among those with contracts running out at the end of June will leave and who will stay. Leeds announced on Wednesday morning that Illan Meslier would leave the club after seven years at Elland Road and the club also said farewell to loanee Facundo Buonanotte who played just 36 minutes of Premier League football since joining in January. But they remain in talks over the futures of Sam Byram, Alex Cairns and Karl Darlow. The latter has a number of suitors but Leeds are keen to keep him as part of their goalkeeping set-up for n...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United’s full retained list is expected later today. Leeds United will say goodbye to a two-time title winner this summer. The Whites are due to publish their retained list by noon on Wednesday along with the rest of the Premier League clubs yet to do so. One of the names it will reveal among the summer exits is that of goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The Frenchman was originally brought to the club on loan from FC Lorient in 2019 and having been drafted into the first team towards the end of his first season during Kiko Casilla’s racism ban, helped Marcelo Bielsa's men to win the Championship. Meslier remained first-choice keeper for the vast majority of Leeds' three seasons in the top flight, until Sam Allardyce dropped him for the final handful of games in what was a doomed attempt to keep the Whites up. Daniel Farke also saw Meslier as his number one for almost two full seasons, but brought Karl Darlow in between the sticks for the promotion run-...

The Leeds United chief is both optimistic and realistic about the near and long term future Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Paraag Marathe is unquestionably hopeful about the future at Leeds United, yet it is undeniable that the club needs a period of Premier League stability before thinking about loftier heights. The 49ers supremo believes it will take three seasons to fully establish the Whites as a top-flight regular and is keen to not repeat the mistakes of when Leeds were last in the Premier League, amid the drop off after a remarkable first season. Yet Marathe is clear on the potential of United, from the stadium to the academy and beyond. During a chat with reporters on Monday, the chairman portrayed a measured and promising blueprint for what comes next. The Leeds chief was quizzed on the long-term goal for the club, what needs to happen next and his continued involvement with Scottish giants Rangers. Below is the second part of the Q&A transcript, with the ot...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United will be working under new financial rules during this summer's transfer window. Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe says the Premier League's new Squad Cost Ratio will mean less flexibility in short term spending but the club want to add difference makers in the summer transfer window. The Whites secured Premier League status for next season with games to spare and have set their sights on improving Daniel Farke's starting XI. But they will be operating in a slightly different financial world from this summer, with the Profitability and Sustainability Rules [PSR] being replaced by the new Squad Cost Ratio [SCR]. Leeds voted against the new rules because they believe in the short term it means they can spend a little less. But with the Elland Road redevelopment now underway, the expectation is that an expanded stadium will make SCR more beneficial in the future. In the meantime, that means 'strategic' recruitment according to Mar...

Leeds United are delighted to announce captain Ethan Ampadu has signed a new contract with the club, committing his long-term future to the Whites. The 25-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a fresh four-year deal, to keep him at Elland Road until the summer of 2030. The versatile midfielder has been an influential figure in West Yorkshire both on and off the pitch since his arrival from Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 season, when he was the first signing of the club’s new ownership regime. In his debut campaign, Ampadu featured in every league match for Daniel Farke’s side and was named the club’s Player of the Year. The following summer, Ampadu was handed the captain’s armband and revelled in the role, leading by example to help guide the Whites to a 100-point haul and, crucially, the Championship trophy which he proudly held aloft after the final day victory away at Plymouth Argyle. Last term, Ethan shone on United’s return to the Premier League, making 35 appearances in the he...

The Leeds United captain is staying on at Elland Road in what is a hugely important first summer step Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Club captain Ethan Ampadu has penned a four-year contract extension at Leeds United, keeping him at the club until 2030. The midfielder arrived from Chelsea for £7m in 2023 and has become an integral part of Daniel Farke's project at Elland Road, with the manager often describing him as his "most important player". His contract was due to expire next summer but by agreeing new terms, Leeds have shut down the danger of rival clubs coming in with offers. A renewal for Ampadu was one of the main objectives for the board this off-season. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, chairman Paraag Marathe shared his delight with getting the deal over the line. He said: "Ethan was so instrumental for a whole year. He's such a captain on and off the pitch. Everything he does is just true leadership. "He is almost like one of u...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has responded to Daniel Farke's recent comments on ambition and addressed the manager's Elland Road future. With Premier League safety secured, Farke used a pre-game press conference to put on record his feelings about the immediate future. The German said that all the boxes had been ticked on his and 49ers Enterprises' first project and now it was time to sit down and discuss the next steps, but if maintaining the status quo was the goal then he was not the right man for the job. Farke defined ambition as keeping the club's best players and avoiding the mistakes of the summer 2021 transfer window when the team was not sufficiently strengthened. "I'm not bothered by it," said Marathe, speaking to the local press in London. "I love his ambition. I have ambition too, I think it was probably for him - and I'm happy for him - probably a moment to just [let out a ] sigh, it was relaxation f...