Leeds United have once again had another eventful calendar year following their play-off final defeat to Southampton in May and promising start to the current campaign.
The Whites began 2024 like an absolute house on fire as they went onto win 12 of their opening 13 league matches, while also progressing through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Unfortunately that run was not enough to get Leeds over the line for automatic promotion, as Leicester City and Ipswich Town both pipped them to the top two. The day out at Wembley also ended in disappointment.
Due to Leeds’ failure to win promotion, the squad once again underwent a major transformation over the summer, with several players joining, and even more going the other way.
With there having been so much turnover in the playing squad and numerous injury problems, there aren’t many players who have been able to perform at a consistent level the whole year round.
However, we have done our best to pick who we think are the top three players of 2024 have been for Leeds.
3. Junior Firpo
The start of 2024 almost directly coincided with Junior Firpo producing his best run of form in a Leeds shirt. After being brought on as a first half sub in the win over Birmingham City on New Year’s Day, he hasn’t looked back since.
The crucial thing for Firpo, until very recently, is that he has managed to stay fit for the entire calendar year, something which he simply hadn’t been able to do in his first two-and-a-half-years at the club.
Consistent minutes in the team has enabled Firpo to establish himself as one of the best left-backs in the Championship. In total across 2024, he has managed one goal and 11 assists in 44 appearances.
2. Wilfried Gnonto
Similarly to Firpo, Wilfried Gnonto entered the New Year with his confidence levels arguably the lowest they had ever been at Leeds.
Gnonto simply couldn’t find a way of dislodging either Dan James or Crysencio Summerville out of Daniel Farke‘s side, until injury to the former gave him his chance.
Between the beginning of February and end of March, Gnonto went on a run of scoring seven times in 11 appearances, helping get his Elland Road career back on track.
And after signing a new deal in September, Gnonto has continued that form into this season, scoring four goals and providing five assists during the first half of the campaign.
1. Joe Rodon
Despite the fine form of both Gnonto and Firpo, Leeds’ best and most consistent player of 2024 has undoubtedly been Joe Rodon.
Rodon was a key part of Leeds’ incredible run and defensive record earlier in the calendar year, and has continued that fine form since joining permanently.
Leeds have the third best defensive record in the Championship this season and a lot of that is down to the partnership he has formed with Pascal Struijk, who misses out on a place in the top three due to his injury in the first half of the year.
The ‘brilliant‘ Rodon just seems to be getting better and better, and it was a great moment seeing him score his first goal for Leeds recently against Derby.
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