£1.3m Marcelo Bielsa signing has clearly been Leeds United’s best player in 2023

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Leeds United have certainly ended the year in better fashion than what they started it.

The Whites won just three of their 22 league matches in the first six months of the year, a record which saw them relegated from the Premier League and meant several first team players departed.

It was then a summer of complete change as nine players came in to replace the 18 that departed, and Leeds have enjoyed a much better time of it in the Championship as they push for an immediate return to the top-flight.

With there having been so much turnover in the squad, it is hard to pick a player who has performed consistently the whole year round.

But even so, we have taken a look at who our top three players of 2023 have been for Leeds.

3. Willy Gnonto

It has not been an easy season for Gnonto in the Championship, but taking the entire year into consideration, he deserves to be in the top three.

He started 2023 on fire, scoring his first goal for the club against West Ham, producing an incredible display in defeat at Aston Villa, and netting a couple of stunners in the FA Cup against Cardiff City.

The 20-year-old also found the back of the net at Old Trafford – there is no better place for a Leeds player to score. He has shown moments in the Championship and so hopefully he gets more of a chance in 2024.

2. Georginio Rutter

You could argue Gnonto should be ahead of Rutter based on the division they have produced their respective performances in, but the latter has been more consistent for longer.

Rutter has been one of the best players in the Championship this season, with four goals and nine assists. No player has more assists in the division.

His dribbling and creativity have made him a joy to watch at times over the last few months, and perhaps if he was more clinical in front of goal, he would be top.

1. Crysencio Summerville

Without doubt the best player across 2023 has been Summerville, predominantly down to his incredible run of form in the Championship.

Summerville was signed as an U23s player for just £1.3 million all the way back in 2020, but has grown and developed into Leeds’ go-too man.

With 10 goals and six assists this season, only Adam Armstrong has more goal contributions than Summerville in the Championship, and there haven’t been many defences who can handle him.

Summerville won himself credit from supporters for the way he handled the summer window when everyone else around him pursued an exit. His performances since make him worthy of number one.