Leeds United have confirmed the signing of free agent Josuha Guilavogui on a contract until the end of the season, as The Whites ease their lack of options in central defence and midfield.
Below, are five facts on the 34-year-old star including his glittering CV, how much the France international has accumulated in transfer fees over the years and how Nadiem Amiri helped save his life in March.
Josuha Guilavogui’s glittering CV and transfer fees
Guilavogui arrives in England for the first time having been linked on a number of occasions with some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs. Arsenal, in 2013, were linked with Guilavogui as per The Express.
But the 34-year-old boasts a solid CV that has seen him play for Atletico Madrid, Wolfsburg, Mainz, St. Etienne and Bordeaux. His biggest move saw Diego Simeone pay around £8m to land the Frenchman.
When Guilavogui made his seven France appearances
The Toulon-born star has seven caps for his country. Back in 2013, he featured in five France games in a row, starting games against Brazil, Belgium and Georgia and coming on against Uruguay and Belarus.
He returned to the squad in Novewmber 2014 and helped France beat Sweden to win 1-0, before coming on as a sub against Sweden in March 2015. But since then, Guilavogui has been overlooked by France.
Guilavogui’s last outing, and his last 90 minutes
Having spent nine years at Wolfsburg and clocked up 265 games, Guilavogui joined Mainz in the summer of 2023 on a free. But he only managed 12 outings last term, the last of which came as a late sub in May.
The last time Guilavogui played 90 minutes was way back in March, playing as a centre-back in a 0-0 draw against RB Leipzig. Whether Guilavogui is fit and ready to go remains to be seen, but it is a long time.
Why Daniel Farke will find Guilavogui the ideal addition
Daniel Farke spoke recently of needing an experienced player that could help coach his young Leeds stars, but one that could ease the lack of cover Leeds have in both central midfield and centre-back.
Max Wober, Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu are all long-term absentees and it meant Farke wanted to sign a player capable of playing in both roles. Cheikhou Kouyate was linked before Guilavogui was signed.
How Nadiem Amiri saved Guilavogui’s life this year
Every Leeds fan will know the name Nadiem Amiri. In Farke’s first summer, he tried desperately to lure Germany star Amiri to Elland Road but even after a trip to Thorp Arch, Amiri chose not to join Leeds.
He joined Guilavogui’s Mainz instead and during the first 30 minutes of Mainz’s 8-1 loss to Bayern Munich in January, Guilavogui was knocked out after a collision with teammate Anthony Caci’s knee.
Immediately, teammate Amiri put Guilavogui in the recovery position. But Guilavogui had swallowed his tongue and referee Patrick Ittrich reacted immediately to clear his airways, the duo saving his life.
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