Mighty Leeds Weblog

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...

By Kyle Newbould A look at the history behind the badge adorning Leeds United’s 2026/27 Adidas away shirt. Leeds United officially released their 2026/27 away kit on Thursday with a nod to one of the club’s most successful periods in history. The Whites published a brilliant release film narrated by club legend Lucas Radebe, showcasing the lengths fans go to watch their beloved club on the road. A handful of current squad members are also involved, including Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Next season’s away design has reverted back to the bold yellow that brought record sales ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, but the similarities don’t end there. Like the 1970s smiley badge that adorned that Championship title-winning kit, Leeds have gone retro again with the use of their much-loved Yorkshire Rose badge. Leeds had their Yorkshire Rose badge in place over a 14-year period from 1984 to 1998, a hugely successful spell spent mostly under iconic manag...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United and Adidas have released their new away shirt for the 2026/27 Premier League season. Leeds United have officially released their retro-inspired Adidas away shirt for the 2026/27 season. The Whites are about to enter their seventh year with kit manufacturers Adidas and second consecutive campaign in the Premier League. Daniel Farke’s side finished 14th last season and look set for another exciting summer. On Thursday morning, the club officially revealed the design for next season’s away shirt, reverting back to a traditional Leeds yellow with night navy and white detailing on the sleeve and neck. It will be accompanied by navy shorts and yellow socks. And as was the case in 2024/25, the upcoming campaign’s offering will have a nod back to the glory days in the form of a much-loved retro Leeds crest that was present on all shirts between 1984 and 1998. The Yorkshire Rose badge is synonymous with Howard Wilkinson’s 1991/92 First Division title-winn...

Leeds United and adidas have today unveiled the club’s new away kit for the 26/27 Premier League season, marking a historic first for the partnership with the strip featuring the iconic adidas Originals Trefoil logo. Our new away kit also sees the return of the much-loved white rose crest, which last appeared on a Leeds United shirt during the 98/99 campaign. Combining two iconic symbols with one of the club’s most recognisable colourways, this new launch celebrates both Leeds United’s heritage and the enduring connection between the club, the city and Yorkshire. The shirt has a classic yellow base, synonymous with Leeds United away kits throughout the decades. Striking yet refined, the vibrant EQT yellow is complemented by night navy and white detailing, reimagining a renowned colour palette through a modern adidas Originals lens. The V-neck jersey is then paired with navy shorts and yellow socks to complete the away strip for our upcoming campaign. To accompany the reveal, Leed...

By Graham Smyth Work is already underway at Elland Road following the conclusion of Leeds United's 2025/26 Premier League season. Leeds United have officially marked the start of Elland Road's 'enhancement' with work already started on the new West Stand. Drone footage posted on the CC Overview YouTube channel over the past two weeks has shown the demolition of the old ticket office and LUTV studio, along with the partial removal of the banqueting suite behind the West Stand. The floodlights behind the stand have also come down and a temporary structure to house corporate hospitality is going up at the back of the Kop. A club statement says the development work heralds a 'momentous moment' in Leeds United history. It read: "The enhancement of Leeds United’s iconic Elland Road Stadium is officially under way. Our home, our future and a momentous moment in the club’s 106-year existence, work has now begun on the West Stand starting with the removal of...

By Kyle Newbould Daniel Farke is close to reaching three years at Leeds United having guided them to Premier League safety. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been labelled a ‘good person’ who did a ‘brilliant job’ staving off relegation by a former managerial colleague. Farke kept Leeds up relatively comfortably in the end, their 47 points good enough for 14th place and safety with three Premier League games to spare. The German oversaw a hugely impressive eight-match unbeaten run to get his side over the line, losing for the first time since early-March on the final day at West Ham when there was nothing to play for. After coming under early pressure amid concerns of previous top-flight failings with Norwich City, Farke is now widely expected to guide Leeds into a fourth season as manager. And former colleague Tony Pulis, who managed over 1,000 matches, 323 of which were in the Premier League, is happy to see a ‘nice man’ do well in this cutthroat industry. “Daniel Farke ha...