The 10 most expensive Leeds United sales of all time, including Man Utd and Barcelona deals

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Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha and Rio Ferdinand playing for Leeds United

Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha and Rio Ferdinand all left Leeds United in big-money deals

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14th • EPL

Leeds United have often struggled to keep hold of their star players but they have managed to bring in some record-breaking transfer fees.

They have sold four players to Premier League clubs this summer and Wilfried Gnonto has also been linked with a move to Everton.

We’ve taken a look at the 10 most expensive sales in Leeds United’s history and how those players fared after leaving the club.

Note: While we’ve mentioned the potential add-ons in any deal, we’ve ranked the players by their initial transfer fees.

10. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – £12m

Hasselbaink joined Leeds in a £2million deal in 1997 and became a fan favourite at Elland Road, scoring 42 goals in 87 appearances in all competitions.

But his time at the club came to an acrimonious end in 1999 when he rejected a £25,000-per-week contract offer and handed in a transfer request.

“They offered me a new contract but it wasn’t great,” he said. “I wasn’t one of David O’Leary’s favourites. He took over and I think he wanted to get his own team.

“Chelsea came in for me, but they didn’t want to sell me to Chelsea. I told them what the going rate was for my contract and that I wanted to sign, but they said no. I said OK, then I want to go.”

The striker completed a £12million move to Atletico Madrid and scored 35 goals in all competitions in 1999/00 before returning to the Premier League with Chelsea.

9. Chris Wood – £15m

After winning the Championship Golden Boot in the 2016/17 season, Wood attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Burnley made two unsuccessful bids for the New Zealand international before a third offer of £15million was accepted by Leeds in August 2017.

The striker spent four-and-a-half years at Turf Moor and became Burnley’s record Premier League goalscorer, with 49 goals in 136 league appearances.

8. Luis Sinisterra – £20m

Sinisterra joined Leeds from Feyenoord in a £21million deal in the summer of 2022 and showed glimpses of his talent at Elland Road.

But he also struggled with injury problems and was unable to prevent Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League in the 2022/23 season.

The Colombia international left the club a few weeks later and joined Bournemouth on an initial loan deal, which has now been made permanent for £20million.

7. Tyler Adams – £23m

Alongside Sinisterra, Adams also spent a year at Elland Road before moving to Bournemouth at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Leeds managed to sell the USA international for £23million, a £3million profit on the fee they paid to sign him from RB Leipzig.

The midfielder endured an injury-plagued debut season with the Cherries, making just four appearances in all competitions in 2023/24.

6. Crysencio Summerville – £25m

Summerville won the Championship Player of the Season award in 2023/24 after providing 20 goals and nine assists in 46 league appearances.

A release clause in his contract allowed West Ham United to sign the 22-year-old for a fee starting at £25million with potential add-ons.

The deal represents a huge profit for Leeds, who bought the winger from Feyenoord in a £1.3million deal in the summer of 2020.

5. Rio Ferdinand – £29.3m

Ferdinand joined Leeds from West Ham in 2000 and was an integral member of the side that reached the Champions League semi-finals.

But financial pressure forced the club to sell the centre-back, who joined Manchester United in 2002 in a deal worth an initial £29.3million and another £4million in potential add-ons.

The deal made him the most expensive British footballer in history at the time and it also left Leeds fans feeling betrayed due to the bitter rivalry between both sides.

“I actually didn’t realise how much of a rivalry Leeds and Man United was,” Ferdinand said. “In London it wasn’t a thing for us, I never knew that it was a big rivalry.

“Then I signed for Man United and I went there for the right reasons, to win trophies, simple as that, and I was justified in doing and Leeds needed the money so really they should be thanking me for leaving otherwise the club go over.”

He went on to enjoy a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford, winning six Premier League titles, two League Cups, a Champions League and the FIFA World Club Cup.

4= Archie Gray – £40m

Archie Gray came through the academy at Leeds United, following in the footsteps of his father Andy Gray and his grandfather Frank Gray.

The 18-year-old enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough season in 2023/24, winning Leeds’ Young Player of the Year award and the Championship Young Player of the Year award.

His form attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur, who secured his signature by triggering the £40million release clause in his contract.

The midfielder penned a six-year deal with the north London side and has now become the second-most expensive English teenager of all time after Jude Bellingham.

4= Georginio Rutter

The most expensive signing in Leeds United’s history, Rutter joined the club from Hoffenheim in a £35.5million deal in January 2023.

He initially struggled to justify that price tag as Leeds suffered relegation from the Premier League, but the 22-year-old registered seven goals and 15 assists in the Championship in 2023/24.

While Leeds rejected two bids from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2024, they were unable to prevent his departure after the Seagulls triggered the £40million release clause in his contract.

“Every effort was made to keep Georginio at Elland Road despite his exit clause being activated, but he was persistent and adamant in his desire to leave and we respect his decision,” Leeds said in a statement.

2. Kalvin Phillips – £42m

A boyhood Leeds fan, Phillips helped the club win the Championship title in 2019/20 and made a seamless transition to the Premier League.

He also starred for England at Euro 2020 before joining Manchester City in 2022 in a deal worth an initial £42million and another £3million in potential add-ons.

But the midfielder has failed to establish himself in Pep Guardiola’s team, managing just 901 minutes of first-team football at City.

He had a disastrous loan spell at West Ham United in the second half of the 2023/24 season and has since joined Ipswich Town on a season-long loan deal.

Kalvin Phillips, Leeds midfielder, during Premier League match

1. Raphinha – £49m

Raphinha joined Leeds from Rennes in a £17million deal in 2020 and blossomed into one of the best wingers in the Premier League.

Chelsea and Arsenal both tried to sign the Brazil international in the summer of 2022 but Barcelona won the race for his signature after agreeing to pay Leeds an initial £49million and another £6million in potential add-ons.

He enjoyed a successful debut season in Spain, registering seven goals and seven assists in La Liga as Barcelona won their first league title since 2018/19.

But the 27-year-old now faces an uncertain future at the club after being usurped on the right wing by youngster Lamine Yamal.

READ MORE: The Champions League chasing side Leeds United could have had if Marcelo Bielsa landed his top targets

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