The 2025-26 season is nearly upon us and Leeds United are back in the Premier League.
The wild celebrations sparked by Leeds United’s dramatic Championship title triumph are long gone and a difficult grind of a season in the Premier League is now in store.
After two years of winning nearly every week and being imperious at Elland Road, Leeds will have to adapt to being at the bottom end of a division rather than the top as they fight to survive.
Daniel Farke was backed by the 49ers to lead them in the top flight, despite their doubts, but the manager must get off to a strong start or risk facing the chop.
Staying up is crucial, but Leeds will have to buck the trend if they are to do so, with all three promoted sides being sent straight back down in the last two seasons.
Though it’s all on the line, it’s still set to be a thrilling campaign and here’s what you need to know.
- FIXTURES: Leeds United Premier League game list 2025-26 in full, Daniel Farke’s survival task made clear
Leeds United transfers in the 2025 summer window
Leeds have worked hard this summer to get the squad into fighting shape for the Premier League.
Significant sums have been spent as Farke has added experience, physicality and height to his squad ahead of a gruelling season.
Seven signings have been made so far, with a commitment to pay out over £80m, while Junior Firpo is the only major departure.
| Ins | Outs |
| Lukas Nmecha – Wolfsburg – Free | Junior Firpo – Real Betis – Free |
| Jaka Bijol – Udinese – £15m | Josuha Guilavogui – Released |
| Sebastiaan Bornauw – Wolfsburg – £5.1m | Max Wober – Werder Bremen – Loan |
| Gabriel Gudmundsson – Lille – £10.3m | Mateo Joseph – Mallorca – Loan |
| Sean Longstaff – Newcastle United – £12m (rising to £15m) | Joe Snowdon – Swindon – Free |
| Anton Stach – Hoffenheim – £17.4m (rising to £19.9m) | Joe Gelhardt – Hull – Loan |
| Lucas Perri – Lyon – £13.9m (rising to £15.6m) | Charlie Crew – Doncaster – Loan |
Leeds are also expected to bring in Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.
Leeds United squad numbers 2025-26
The only first-teamer currently at Leeds to swap their number this summer is Illan Meslier, who’s had the No.1 taken off him in favour of Lucas Perri. With Meslier expected to depart, he has not yet been given a new one.
Leeds squad numbers for the 2025-26 season:
- 1. Lucas Perri
- 2. Jayden Bogle
- 3. Gabriel Gudmundsson
- 4. Ethan Ampadu
- 5. Pascal Struijk
- 6. Joe Rodon
- 7. Dan James
- 8. Sean Longstaff
- 9. Patrick Bamford
- 10. Joel Piroe
- 11. Brenden Aaronson
- 14. Lukas Nmecha
- 15. Jaka Bijol
- 17. Largie Ramazani
- 18. Anton Stach
- 21. Alex Cairns
- 22. Ao Tanaka
- 23. Sebastiaan Bornauw
- 25. Sam Byram
- 26. Karl Darlow
- 29. Willy Gnonto
- 33. Isaac Schmidt
- 38. Jack Harrison
- 44. Ilia Gruev
- XX – Illan Meslier
Important fixtures for Leeds in 2025-26
Leeds will have some massive fixtures throughout the season as they renew hostilities with rivals like Manchester United and Chelsea. Elsewhere, there will be some huge relegation scraps.
Here are some of the most important fixtures in the season:
- Opening day, Everton (H) – August 18
- Burnley (A) – October 18
- Chelsea (H) – December 3
- Liverpool (H) December 6
- Sunderland (A) – December 27
- Liverpool (A) – December 30
- Manchester United (H) – January 3
- Sunderland (H) – March 4
- Manchester United (A) April 11
- Burnley (H) – May 2
- Final day, West Ham (A) – May 24
Other Leeds United key dates:
- Carabao Cup final – March 22, 2026
- FA Cup final – May 16, 2026
How will Leeds United perform this season?
Pessimists, some might even say realists, would argue Leeds are set for immediate relegation.
Farke has struggled in his previous Premier League campaigns and he certainly isn’t Marcelo Bielsa.
Leeds also don’t have many, if any, players who have proven Premier League quality and the increasingly worrying reality is that the gap between the first and second divisions is getting too big to jump across.
However, the optimists could say that Leeds defended just as well as Burnley last season while scoring far more goals and that Farke has made sensible signings in the summer.
Instead of falling into the trap of just signing the best in the Championship, Leeds have targeted players with top-level experience in England, Italy, Germany and France and those at the peak of their careers, rather than youngsters with potential.
Farke has also significantly increased the height of his side, with a clear focus on winning physical battles and being strong at set pieces.
Leeds are set up for survival and, if they can add just a bit more attacking flair before deadline day, they could surprise a lot of people.
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