A second signing of Leeds United’s 2025/26 summer has been confirmed with Jaka Bijol penning a deal at Elland Road after Lukas Nmecha’s arrival.
Leeds United finally got their man in Jaka Bijol, with Udinese bidding Bijol an emotional farewell and the Whites announcing the signing at 5.00pm today.
It’s been a drawn-out process regarding Bijol, shocking Elland Road officials in the time it took given how long each step has taken to get a deal over the line.
Fabrizio Romano revealed a €22 million fee will bring Bijol to Leeds, which is the equivalent of £18.8 million for Leeds and now Leeds have signed Bijol on a five-year contract.
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Jaka Bijol could serve a suspension for Leeds against Everton
We suggested over a month ago that Leeds should look at signing Bijol from Udinese before the genuine links emerged between Bijol and Leeds.
Bijol’s insane aerial dominance was on full display when Slovenia played England at the Euros last summer and he will add plenty of character, bite, and aggression to Leeds’ backline.
However, it’s for those reasons that he might miss the opening game of the season through a one-match ban. Bijol captained Udinese to a 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina in the final game of the Serie A season.
Unfortunately, he was yellow carded after nine minutes and then received a second yellow on 39 minutes in his final game for the club, meaning it was an early bath for the 6’3″ defender.
For Leeds, it means that the suspension could carry over to a new season and a new league for Bijol. The rules around this are not exactly clear, with straight red cards carrying over from a domestic competition to a new league.
However, second yellows don’t always apply in the same way. It leaves the prospect of the Everton game up in the air. Should he miss it, then the first fixture available to the 26-year-old will be away to Arsenal at The Emirates on matchday two of the season.
The 63-cap Slovenian international has never been sent off for his country but has four red cards at club level. Interestingly, they have all come via a second yellow and none have been a straight red.
Bijol’s first words for Leeds spoke about the Everton game as well; it means that he either doesn’t know he might miss the game yet, that he has forgotten about the Fiorentina incident entirely, or he has assurances it won’t carry over.
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How will Leeds set up against Arsenal with Bijol?
Bijol is just the second Slovenian to play for Leeds but his impact should be far greater than the last. The warrior defender will be vital against Arsenal and in games of that type where Leeds defend their box and come under the cosh for large portions of the game.
Leeds could opt to play him against the Gunners as part of a back four with one of Joe Rodon or Pascal Struijk, but it may actually serve them well to play each of them together.
If Leeds opt for a back five with wing-backs, they can soak up pressure in a deep block. It’s something Bijol is accustomed to and what he has done for many years for club and country.
He can operate as the central centre-back in a back five with both players flanking him. That makes the most sense unless Leeds sign another defender like Real Betis’ Natan.
Either way, Bijol is unlikely to be the last central defensive option through the Elland Road door this summer.
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