Every completed Leeds United transfer in summer 2025: Signings, exits, loans

Leeds United are back in the Premier League for the 2025-26 season and have been working on getting their squad up to standard ahead of the challenge.

It was second time lucky for Leeds in their attempt to get back in the top flight after their relegation in 2023. Daniel Farke is now ready for another crack at the Premier League, but as with any promoted side, just sticking with what he already had likely wouldn’t be enough.

Thus, Leeds have been at work to reinforce in several positions as they aim to break the recent trend of promoted teams going straight back down to the Championship.

Here is a roundup of every signing they have made this summer and every player leaving, at first team and academy level.

Leeds United signings

Lukas Nmecha

• From: Wolfsburg
• Fee: Free
• Position: Forward
• Age: 26

The capture of Nmecha came out of the blue, with Leeds announcing his upcoming arrival in the middle of June.

With his Wolfsburg contract expiring, Nmecha agreed a two-year contract to return to English football.

Previously, he came through the Manchester City academy, making two Premier League appearances, and had loan spells in the Championship with Preston North End and Middlesbrough.

“It’s just a great challenge and I’m really excited to get to know the team,” Nmecha told LUTV.

“I’ve spoken with the manager many times and I’m excited to play that style of football that they played in the Championship, even in the Premier League.”

Nmecha scored 19 goals from 73 games at Wolfsburg after returning to the German club – where he previously played on loan – in 2021.

Mainly a centre-forward, which is a position Leeds have been looking to upgrade, Nmecha can also play on the wing.

Jaka Bijol

• From: Udinese
• Fee: £15m
• Position: Centre-back
• Age: 26

The Slovenian is right-footed centre-back who has spent the last three years in the Italian top flight with Udinese. He makes the move to Elland Road to bolster a backline that is now back in the big time following promotion last season.

Bijol made 95 appearances for Udinese in all competitions during his time with the Serie outfit, becoming a mainstay of their defence in the process.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Bijol played the second-most minutes in the Udinese squad, behind only Jesper Karlstrom. He was also appointed vice-captain of the club in July 2024.

He will bring some much-needed experience, competition and depth to a centre-back room that also includes the likes of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk.

Sebastiaan Bornauw

• From: Wolfsburg
• Fee: £5.1m
• Position: Centre-back
• Age: 26

The Belgium international is the third signing made by Leeds since their return to the Premier League following the arrivals of Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol.

Bornauw moved from Anderlecht to Cologne in Germany in 2019 before joining Wolfsburg where he played Champions League football.

The 6ft 3in central defender made 15 Bundesliga appearances last season, scoring twice.

He will compete with fellow new boy Bijol, Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk for a starting role at Elland Road.

Gabriel Gudmundsson

• From: Lille
• Fee: £10m
• Position: Left-back
• Age: 26

The experienced Sweden international became Leeds’ fourth signing of the summer after agreeing a switch from Lille for an undisclosed fee understood to be in the region of £10m.

A replacement for Junior Firpo at left-back, Gudmundsson is capable of playing down the wing or in the heart of the defence, and also boasts 15 caps for Sweden.

Seen as more defensively robust than his predecessor and having featured nine times in the Champions League in his career, the 26-year-old has signed a four-year deal at Elland Road.

Louis Enahoro-Marcus

• From: Liverpool
• Fee: Free
• Position: Centre-back
• Age: 18

Enahoro-Marcus was playing mainly at under-18 level for Liverpool last season, and has now signed a two-year contract with Leeds.

He will initially link up in the academy ranks at Leeds.

Jayden Lienou

• From: Manchester City
• Fee: Undisclosed
• Position: Left-back
• Age: 17

Another academy recruit, Lienou won the U18 Premier League North with Manchester City last season and is a Wales youth international.

He will be contracted for three years in West Yorkshire.

Sean Longstaff

• From: Newcastle
• Fee: £12m
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 27

A high-energy, reliable midfielder with 171 Premier League appearances under his belt, Longstaff looks set to play a key role for Leeds this season.

Longstaff has signed a four-year contract with the Whites, ending an 18-year stint on Tyneside.

The transfer fee is an initial £12m, which could rise to £15m with add-ons.

Anton Stach

• From: Hoffenheim
• Fee: £17.3m
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 26

A few days after Longstaff, Leeds made another addition to their midfield, bringing Stach to the Premier League.

The Germany international, with two senior caps to his name, has signed a four-year contract in West Yorkshire.

For those unfamiliar with his game, Stach explained: “I would say I am an aggressive player. I am good in duels. I am good at anticipating passes from the opponents and it would be good for the Premier League. Now we will see, I will try my best!”

Lucas Perri

• From: Lyon
• Fee: £14m
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Age: 27

The goalkeeper position was the one Leeds were under the most pressure to upgrade after the decline in fortunes for Illan Meslier last season.

They will be hoping Perri can be the solution they’ve been craving after making him comfortably the most expensive goalkeeper signing in their history.

Perri, who previously had a loan spell at Crystal Palace without playing, has signed a four-year contract in West Yorkshire.

He told the club’s official website: “When I first heard that the interest could get something serious and actually happen, I started to look for videos of the stadium, the atmosphere, the games, the highlights of the plays and the matches.

“It was a really exciting moment for me. I was really, really glad that the club showed interest. It was incredible. To sign here I am very, very happy.”

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

• From: Everton
• Fee: Free
• Position: Striker
• Age: 28

After being released by Everton at the end of a nine-year stay on Merseyside, former Sheffield United prospect Calvert-Lewin is back in Yorkshire.

Now 28, Calvert-Lewin has signed a three-year contract at Elland Road. He will be hoping his fitness issues are behind him and he can get the goals Leeds need to stay up.

“For me, it is a massive football club with a massive fan base,” he told LUTV. “I have played at Elland Road before and I just remember thinking how loud the fans were and how good the fans were.

“It is something that I really, really wanted to be a part of. I also spoke with the manager prior to this and we had a really good conversation and he was a centre-forward himself. So, he was just explaining how the life of a centre-forward is and he gave me a feeling of a lot of understanding and it made me really excited to work with him as well. And just the way that the team set up and the way that we set up last season was really attractive for me.”

Noah Okafor

• From: AC Milan
• Fee: £17.3m
• Position: Forward
• Age: 25

Adding another versatile element to their attack, Leeds have signed Okafor from AC Milan on a four-year contract for the equivalent of €20m.

Okafor spent the second half of last season on loan at Napoli, where he became a Serie A winner despite only playing four times.

After embarking on his new challenge, Okafor told LUTV: “I think it’s an amazing day, I’m really excited.

“As a kid, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. That’s why for me it was quite an easy decision.

“So I said, yeah, my football suits the Premier League, this is like a dream come true. I can’t wait to step on the field.

“I heard that the Premier League is the best league in the world, it’s so intense. I have loads of friends that played there or are playing there.

“I’m really, really excited. I can’t wait, like I said before. I’m also ready for this new challenge.”

James Justin

• From: Leicester City
• Fee: £10m
• Position: Defender
• Age: 27

The full-back moves to Elland Road on a four-year contract and becomes the club’s 10th signing of a busy summer.

Leeds will pay Leicester £8m, with £2m in add-ons, for the 27-year-old defensive talent.

“Obviously to join a club of this size and to have the history it has had, and being back in the Premier League was a massive thing for me, so I’m over the moon to have joined,” James said.

“The stadium has obviously got one of the best atmospheres in world football.

“And it’s always a daunting task to come here as an opposing team, but I’m happy to have the fans behind me this time.”

READ MORE 👉 Leeds United most expensive signings: Top 10 revealed

Leeds United exits

Rasmus Kristensen

• To: Eintracht Frankfurt
• Fee: £7.6m
• Position: Right-back
• Age: 27

A member of the Leeds squad that suffered relegation from the Premier League in 2023, Kristensen subsequently went on loan to Roma and then Eintracht Frankfurt.

The latter of those two spells was more successful, including 43 appearances and six goals, which was enough to prompt Frankfurt to buy him.

While the fee has been listed as undisclosed, it’s believed to be in the region of £7.6m (€9m).

Kristensen cost Leeds around £10m to buy from Red Bull Salzburg before, but after he struggled to prove himself in the Premier League, they will be glad to have got him off the books.

Josuha Guilavogui

• To: TBC (Released)
• Fee: Free
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 34

When Leeds were in desperate need of midfield cover due to some absences last season, Guilavogui arrived as a free agent to plug the gap.

The former Mainz midfielder played 18 times for the Whites, but was only ever expected to be an emergency, short-term solution.

As expected, Leeds confirmed he would be released at the end of his one-year contract.

“I will be back to watch in the Premier League, stood in the stands with you,” a grateful Guilavogui said in his farewell interview.

Junior Firpo

• To: Real Betis
• Fee: Free
• Position: Left-back
• Age: 28

Four years after his arrival from Barcelona, Firpo has departed Leeds as a free agent.

With two seasons apiece of Premier League and Championship experience under his belt, the left-back amassed 122 appearances in Leeds colours.

No defender made more assists in the Championship last season than Firpo’s 10, but questions were previously asked of his ability in the Premier League.

Firpo helped Leeds win promotion in his final season but has now completed a move back to his former club Real Betis.

Joe Snowdon

• To: Swindon Town
• Fee: Free
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 20

Five years since joining the Leeds academy from Manchester City’s, Snowdon reached the end of his contract.

The midfielder featured in the under-21 side for Leeds last season, but has now joined Ian Holloway’s Swindon Town.

“I’m buzzing to be here at Swindon as it’s a club full of history and I’m just really looking forward to getting started and getting going,” he said on his media duties for his new club, who play in League Two and have given him a 12-month contract.

Harry Christy

• To: TBC (Released)
• Fee: Free
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Age: 21

Christy captained Leeds’ under-21s in his only Premier League 2 appearance of the 2024-25 season after signing a one-year contract extension last July. The Harrogate-born keeper is now free to find a new club.

Cian Coleman

• To: Buxton
• Fee: Free
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 20

Coleman had two loan spells in the National League North with Buxton last season, scoring eight goals from 28 games, before reaching the end of the professional contract he signed with Leeds in 2023. He has now made his stay with Buxton permanent.

Connor Ferguson

• To: TBC (Released)
• Fee: Free
• Position: Left-back
• Age: 21

Having represented Leeds up to under-21 level, Ferguson gained some senior experience in the National League North with Farsley Celtic on a month’s loan last season.

Max McFadden

• To: Tottenham Hotspur
• Fee: Free
• Position: Attacking midfielder
• Age: 19

McFadden arrived at Leeds from Colchester’s academy in 2022 and leaves the club after a season in which he played 13 times for the under-21s in Premier League 2.

He has linked up with Tottenham’s under-21 setup on a two-year deal.

Amari Miller

• To: TBC (Released)
• Fee: Free
• Position: Winger
• Age: 22

Miller had made five Championship appearances for Birmingham City by the time Leeds signed him in 2021, but he never made his senior bow in West Yorkshire.

Kris Moore

• To: Greenock Morton
• Fee: Free
• Position: Defender
• Age: 21

Moore bowed out with a goal on his last appearance for Leeds’ under-21s, after playing as a centre-back or right-back over the years, but the contract he signed in 2023 has now expired.

He has gone on to sign a one-year contract in the Scottish Championship with Greenock Morton.

Joe Richards

• To: Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens
• Fee: Free
• Position: Defender
• Age: 19

Richards signed his first professional contract last summer after helping the under-18s reach the FA Youth Cup final, but it was just a 12-month deal and has run out.

He has moved to the USA to link up with the University of Delaware’s men’s soccer team.

Luca Thomas

• To: TBC (Released)
• Fee: Free
• Position: Winger
• Age: 20

Moving from Manchester City’s academy to Leeds in 2021, Thomas had loan spells with York City and Halifax Town in the National League last season before his contract expired.

Dan Toulson

• To: Charleston Cougars
• Fee: Free
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 19

Toulson signed his first professional contract last summer, valid for just one year, after leading the under-18s out for the 2024 FA Youth Cup final.

Like Richards, he has gone across the Atlantic to join an American college side.

Diogo Monteiro

• To: Arouca
• Fee: Undisclosed
• Position: Centre-back
• Age: 20

Monteiro joined Leeds last time they were in the Premier League, in January 2023, from Servette.

However, he never made his competitive debut for the first team, instead featuring for the under-21s.

The Swiss-born player has now headed to Portugal, the country he has represented at youth level, to join Arouca.

Sam Greenwood

• To: Pogon Szczecin
• Fee: Undisclosed
• Position: Forward
• Age: 23

Sam Greenwood’s less-than-impressive spell at Leeds has finally come to an end, with the attacker joining Polish side Pogon Szczecin on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old, who is able to operate as an attacking midfielder and as a forward, joined Leeds in the summer of 2020.

The youngster initially made 43 appearances for the Leeds Under-21 side before breaking into the first team.

Greenwood played a total of 35 times for the Leeds first team and was out on loan at Middlesbrough and Preston North End for the past two seasons.

Patrick Bamford

• To: Released
• Fee: N/A
• Position: Striker
• Age: 31

Patrick Bamford says he feels raw after leaving Leeds by mutual consent after seven years at the club.

Bamford scored 60 goals in 205 appearances after joining from Middlesbrough for £7m in 2018 and was involved in two promotion-winning campaigns. He scored 17 goals during the club’s first stint back in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020.

But the 31-year-old, who made one England appearance in 2021, was told by manager Daniel Farke last month that he was “not part” of his plans this season and would have to train with the under-21 squad if he remained at the club.

Speaking on Instagram, external Bamford said: “Right now, with the way it has come to an end and the way things have been handled recently it is all too raw for me to reflect on immediately.

“But in the years to come I will look back at this period of my life with nothing but joy and pride and be super happy with what I have achieved.

“I want to thank all the managers I played under but especially Marcelo Bielsa. I don’t know where the club would be without the foundations he laid.”

Darko Gyabi

• To: Hull City
• Fee: Free
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 21

A counterpart for Leeds when they sold Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City in 2022, Gyabi only ever made five first-team appearances.

He was most recently on loan at Plymouth Argyle and will remain in the Championship after being allowed to join Hull City.

“It’s a good place for me to come to improve, learn and kick on – and help the team push forward,” he said.

“I like to make an impact at both ends of the pitch. I want to score more goals, defend, help the team and be creative.”

Leeds United loan exits

Max Wober

• To: Werder Bremen
• Length: Season-long
• Position: Centre-back
• Age: 27

The Austrian defender has moved to the Bundesliga on a season-long loan.

Wober had limited game time in the Championship last season and the club have subsequently signed two centre-backs, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Jaka Bijol, following promotion to the Premier League.

“I had some really good talks with the people in charge at Werder,” Wober, who has previously been on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach from Leeds, said. “I can fully identify with the path the club is taking and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.”

Charlie Crew

• To: Doncaster Rovers
• Length: Season-long
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 19

Crew spent the second half of last season on loan at Doncaster Rovers from Leeds.

The 19-year-old midfielder was an important player for Doncaster, as Grant McCann’s side won the League Two title.

Crew is back on loan at Donny to help them be successful in League One, and manager McCann is over the moon.

McCann told Doncaster’s official website: “You saw how important he was for us during the run-in last season.

“Charlie can play at this level no problem. He can probably play at the level above at this moment in time.

“I’m pleased he’s here with us and I’m delighted that Leeds have trusted us again with one of their best young players.

“I’m hoping this loan spell can go well for Charlie.”

Mateo Joseph

• To: Mallorca
• Length: Season-long
• Position: Striker
• Age: 21

Joseph departs on a season-lng loan to Mallorca after making clear to Daniel Farke his frustrations at the club and desire to play more regular football. The Spain Under-21 striker has progressed nicely at Leeds since joining from Espanyol in 2022, despite never really being prolific.

After rejecting an offer from Real Betis earlier in the year, Leeds have now sanctioned a season-long loan and he departs Elland Road with a record of six goals from 73 appearances.

Joe Gelhardt

• To: Hull City
• Length: Season-long
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 23

Joe Gelhardt has returned to Hull City on yet another loan deal from Leeds United.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at the MKM Stadium and made a very positive impact.

Hull have decided to bring back the former Wigan Athletic star for the 2025/26 campaign.

Gelhardt told Hull’s official website after the deal: “It feels amazing. I made it clear I wanted to come back here.

“I loved my time here last year – everyone was so welcoming and friendly. It’s a great club to be at, and the lads have spoken very highly of the new manager.

“The people here, the city, the fans – everything about last season was just the perfect match. I was probably the happiest I’ve been in my football career during the last few months I spent here last year.”

Isaac Schmidt

• To: Werder Bremen
• Length: Season-long
• Position: Right-back
• Age: 25

The Swiss defender joined the Whites last summer and was a regular member of the squad which helped to secure promotion as champions back to the Premier League.

Schmidt made 14 appearances for Daniel Farke’s side across all competitions last season but now heads out on loan to the German side in search of more game time.

Largie Ramazani

• To: Valencia
• Length: Season-long
• Position: Winger
• Age: 24

The attacker arrived at Elland Road at the beginning of last term and in his maiden campaign for the Whites, he scored seven times in all competitions for Daniel Farke’s side en route to the Sky Bet Championship title.

The 24-year-old joins Carlos Corberán’s squad at the Mestalla, who will be keen to build on an impressive end to the previous term which saw the team produce a strong run of form to finish in mid-table.