New Daniel Farke signing says he was ‘very happy’ at previous club but Leeds United got ‘very forceful’

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United are steadily putting together a very impressive summer transfer window, with 8 new players already arriving at Elland Road.

So far this summer, Leeds United have spent around £80m on new players. The last one to arrive cost nothing though, with Leeds United signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.

And ahead of the September 1st transfer deadline, it looks like Daniel Farke is trying to complete a few more signings, with reports that Leeds could even spend quite a bit of money in the last two weeks of the window.

It is understood that Leeds United are set to sign Noah Okafor from AC Milan for around £30m, with attack looking like the main area that Farke will focus on right now.

One player who arrived for a substantial fee this summer was Lucas Perri. Leeds United signed Perri for around £14m from Lyon in France, and the Brazilian shot stopper made his debut in the Premier League opener against Everton on Monday.

• READ MORE: Daniel Farke will be laughing as Everton fans slam ‘woeful’ player after Leeds United defeat

Lucas Perri explains how ‘forceful’ Leeds United signed him from Lyon

On Monday night, Leeds United beat Everton 1-0 in the Premier League. Summer signing Lukas Nmecha scored from the penalty spot with five minutes to play, sealing an opening day win for Farke and setting the tone for what could be a very positive start to the 2025/26 Premier League season.

It was a commanding performance from Leeds who thoroughly deserved the win. And it’s a credit to the team’s performance that goalkeeper Perri had very little to do on the night. But the 27-year-old looked solid when called upon, bringing a new air of stability to the defence following Illan Meslier’s poor performances in the 2024/25 season in the Championship.

And speaking to ESPN Brazil, Perri has been talking about his move to Leeds United and how the club was very forceful in the way they negotiated with Lyon and eventually signed the goalkeeper. Perry revealed: “There was a lot of interest from some clubs during the off-season.

“At the start of pre-season, I was very happy at Lyon. I had a very good season, I made a lot of friends there, it was a special place for me. This opportunity to play for Leeds came up, and they were very forceful in their interest and in the way they negotiated my purchase.

It’s an honour to be bought by them in the way I was. The project they presented to me is very cool, very strong, and I hope we can achieve our goals.”

• READ MORE: Leeds United move for Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia back on after unexpected Unai Emery decision

Nigel Martyn has given his verdict on Lucas Perri at Leeds United

Against Everton, Perri made just the one save. He wasn’t really called into action on the night, but he never looked out of place and it’s given Leeds United fans confidence that they’ve finally got a number one they can rely on.

And speaking ahead of the Everton game, former Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn gave his verdict on Perri. The former Leeds shot stopper explained how Perri’s long stature will better enable him to command his Leeds United area whilst bringing a new air of confidence to the back line.

Martyn said: “He’s a giant of a man. He’s going to bring confidence to the backline. He likes to make saves, his limbs are extraordinarily long, so it’s going to be difficult for strikers to get past him.”

Perri could well be the Leeds United number one for years to come. And he saw on Monday night just how ferocious the Elland Road faithful can be and what a win means to the fans.

Leeds United next play Arsenal in the Premier League next weekend.