Daniel Farke’s 28 signings as Leeds United manager ranked from worst to best.
Daniel Farke is now into his third season as Leeds United manager and it’s been going well so far.
Leeds suffered Play-off final heartbreak to conclude his first season as they lost 1-0 to Southampton at Wembley, but bounced back to clinch the title with 100 points in his second.
Now Leeds are in the Premier League and the pressure is immense on Farke after he was backed by the 49ers as the man to keep them in the top flight.
Farke has been in charge for five transfer windows now and has overseen the arrival of 28 new players to Elland Road – but which one is the best?
Leeds signed 10 players in the 2025 summer window to prepare for the Premier League and here is where they rank alongside the 18 to come before them so far.
- Leeds United wage bill 2025-26 – How much every player and Daniel Farke earns
28 – Alex Cairns
- Signed from: Salford City
- Joined Leeds: July 2024
- Transfer fee: Undisclosed
It’s of no fault of Alex Cairns that he sits rock bottom of the list, but a player who has just 31 minutes of action for the club can’t be any higher. Though he fulfils his role of third, now fourth, choice goalkeeper perfectly well.
27 – Isaac Schmidt
- Signed from: FC St. Gallen
- Joined Leeds: August 2024
- Transfer fee: £2.5m
Isaac Schmidt showed glimpses of pace and potential in his moments on the field in his first season for Leeds, but they were few and far between.
He played just 251 minutes over 14 appearances, with no league starts, and has now joined Werder Bremen on loan for the season.
26 – Djed Spence
- Signed from: Tottenham Hotspur
- Joined Leeds: August 2023
- Transfer fee: Loan
Djed Spence is now a Europa League winner and England international. He had all that promise when on loan at Leeds, but wasn’t able to realise it.
In the end, he made just seven appearances before returning to Tottenham in a few short months.
25 – Josuha Guilavogui
- Signed from: Free agent
- Joined Leeds: October 2024
- Transfer fee: Free
Josuha Guilavougi was a free agent signing out of necessity for Leeds when they were hit with injuries but the experienced midfielder rarely played in his seven months at the club, being used to see games out off the bench.
Yet, despite his limited minutes, Guilavogui made a massive impression on his teammates and fans, making him a beloved figure at the club. Not bad for a free signing.
24 – Connor Roberts
- Signed from: Burnley
- Joined Leeds: January 2024
- Transfer fee: Loan
Connor Roberts was brought in from Burnley to replace Spence and had a much better impact in the second half of the 2023-24 season. He made 15 appearances, scoring once and picking up an assist.
23 – Jaidon Anthony
- Signed from: Bournemouth
- Joined Leeds: September 2023
- Transfer fee: Loan
Jaidon Anthony spent a year on loan at Elland Road but struggled to break into the starting XI over Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville.
Yet, he still managed to contribute two goals and two assists and was a good impact substitute.
22 – Glen Kamara
- Signed from: Rangers
- Joined Leeds: August 2023
- Transfer fee: £5.5m
Glen Kamara only spent a year at Leeds, despite being bought for £5.5m, but was a solid operator throughout Farke’s first season.
Leeds then managed to turn a healthy profit on the midfielder when they sold him to Rennes the following summer, making it a very successful signing.
21 – Sebastiaan Bornauw
- Signed from: Wolfsburg
- Joined Leeds: July 2025
- Transfer fee: £5.1m
Leeds signed experienced defender Sebastiaan Bornauw for a bargain at just over £5m as they looked to bolster their centre-back options in the summer.
However, he is yet to play in the Premier League, so it’s impossible to rank him much higher.
20 – Largie Ramazani
- Signed from: Almeria
- Joined Leeds: August 2024
- Transfer fee: £10m
Leeds paid a hefty £10m to sign Largie Ramazani and there have been glimpses of why, with rapid fast feet and exciting forward play on the flank.
However, Farke never took to Ramazani, repeatedly criticising his work ethic and has now sent him out on loan to Valencia for the season. Hopefully, Ramazani can return and prove his worth.
19 – James Justin
- Signed from: Leicester City
- Joined Leeds: August 2025
- Transfer fee: £8m (rising to £10m)
Versatile full-back James Justin proved to be Leeds’ 10th and final signing of the summer, arriving from Leicester City.
Injuries have meant Justin never reached the sky-high potential he showed when he first burst onto the scene, but his ability to play on either flank and even in the middle will come in very handy during a long season.
18 – Jaka Bijol
- Signed from: Udinese
- Joined Leeds: June 2025
- Transfer fee: £15m
Though, like Bornauw, Jaka Bijol is also still waiting for his first taste of Premier League action, it doesn’t feel like it’ll be long until he gets it and starts climbing up this list.
Pascal Strujk has made a good start to the 2025-26 campaign but Bijol, who has impressed on international duty, is waiting to take his place the moment his form drops.
17 – Ilia Gruev
- Signed from: Werder Bremen
- Joined Leeds: August 2023
- Transfer fee: £5m
Ilia Gruev has slid down this list after 2025’s additions have been added.
The Bulgarian midfielder is trusted by Farke and has worked well as a ball-winner, but rarely offers much presence in the middle of the park to really take games by the horn.
16 – Joe Rothwell
- Signed from: Bournemouth
- Joined Leeds: July 2024
- Transfer fee: Loan
With Ethan Ampadu spending a large chunk of the 2024-25 campaign injured, Joe Rothwell proved to be a shrewd signing.
The tidy midfielder formed a solid partnership with Ao Tanaka, working as the more creative of the two who would move the ball forward. His wicked set piece delivery also came in useful.
15 – Sam Byram
- Signed from: Norwich City
- Joined Leeds: August 2023
- Transfer fee: Free
Hometown hero Sam Byram returned to his boyhood club on a free transfer in 2023, to serve as a backup. Now, he’s in to his third season after stepping in far more than expected and earning a new deal for another go in the Premier League. A good leader in the squad.
14 – Lukas Nmecha
- Signed from: Wolfsburg
- Joined Leeds: June 2025
- Transfer fee: Free
Lukas Nmecha was Leeds’ first signing of the summer when he arrived on a free following his release from Wolfsburg. Although only 26, Nmecha feels like he is much older, and he is largely playing a supporting role from the bench so far at Elland Road.
However, he did tuck away a high-pressure penalty to give Leeds a crucial first win of the season in the opening game.
13 – Lucas Perri
- Signed from: Lyon
- Joined Leeds: July 2025
- Transfer fee: £13.9m (rising to £15.6m)
Leeds desperately needed a better goalkeeper than Illan Meslier when they got promoted and they found one in Lucas Perri.
Injuries have curtailed his start to life in Leeds, but he already has two clean sheets after just three games and has shown his quality.
12 – Karl Darlow
- Signed from: Newcastle United
- Joined Leeds: July 2023
- Transfer fee: £400,000
Karl Darlow was signed to be a second choice to Illan Meslier and for the most part, that’s exactly what he has been.
Yet, his crucial contribution in the final six games of last season ensured the Championship title was won and he’s now above Meslier in the Premier League pecking order. A signing that has proven far more important than expected.
11 – Anton Stach
- Signed from: Hoffenheim
- Joined Leeds: July 2025
- Transfer fee: £17.3m (rising to £19.9m)
Anton Stach was Leeds’ most expensive marquee signing of 2025 and he has shown flashes of why so much money was spent on him.
The giant German has helped make Leeds’ midfield solid, while also showing quality on the ball and scoring an amazing free-kick. Yet, you still sense he has much more to offer over 90 minutes.
10 – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
- Signed from: Everton
- Joined Leeds: August 2025
- Transfer fee: Free
While Leeds spent over £40m on new defenders in the summer, they didn’t spend anything on strikers as Dominic Calvert-Lewin also came in on a free, an oversight that may prove costly.
Calvert-Lewin has brought a lot of quality to the role, especially in leading the line and holding up the ball, but his lack of cutting edge in front of goal is why he’s at newly promoted Leeds and not a better-positioned club. He’s playing well but urgently needs to start converting chances.
9 – Noah Okafor
- Signed from: AC Milan
- Joined Leeds: August 2025
- Transfer fee: £13m (rising to £18m)
After an inauspicious start, Noah Okafor looks like he could be the difference-maker Leeds will need if they are to stay up.
It’s early days, but he’s already showing bravery on the left wing, a willingness and capability to take on and beat defenders and a keen eye for a goal.
8 – Gabriel Gudmundsson
- Signed from: Lille
- Joined Leeds: July 2025
- Transfer fee: £10.3m
If it wasn’t for two atrocious mistakes that have directly led to goals, Gabriel Gudmundsson would be even higher on the list.
Leeds had a tough task in replacing Junior Firpo but passed with flying colours in Gudmundsson, who is just as energetic going forward but even more hard-working and solid at the back (two errors aside). Hopefully, those mistakes aren’t a permanent part of his game.
7 – Sean Longstaff
- Signed from: Newcastle United
- Joined Leeds: July 2025
- Transfer fee: £12m (rising to £15m)
Sean Longstaff has proven to be Leeds’ best signing of 2025 so far.
Out of favour for years at Newcastle, the bustling midfielder has brought expected solidity and experience to the side, but also a surprising level of quality in attacking areas and set pieces. He’s already scoring and setting up goals, and a mainstay in Farke’s XI.
6 – Manor Solomon
- Signed from: Tottenham Hotspur
- Joined Leeds: August 2024
- Transfer fee: Loan
What more can you ask for in a loan? Leeds lost their main attacking forces in 2024 as Summerville and Georginio Rutter left, but Manor Solomon worked to fill the void.
The winger contributed 10 goals and 13 assists in an excellent campaign, including the last minute winner that secured the title ahead of Burnley.
5 – Joel Piroe
- Signed from: Swansea City
- Joined Leeds: August 2023
- Transfer fee: £10m
Joel Piroe has a lot of critics and it remains to be seen if he is good enough to score in the Premier League.
However, Leeds bought him to get the goals that would get them back into the top flight and he delivered on that task. He won the golden boot with 19 goals, adding to the 16 he scored in his first season.
4 – Ethan Ampadu
- Signed from: Chelsea
- Joined Leeds: July 2023
- Transfer fee: £7m
If a new signing becomes the club captain within a year of joining the club, then it must be a pretty successful move.
Ampadu has been a great leader since joining Leeds and gives it his all whenever he is on the pitch. A spotty injury record is the only thing stopping him from being higher but he’s been excellent so far in the Prem.
3 – Ao Tanaka
- Signed from: Fortuna Dusseldorf
- Joined Leeds: August 2024
- Transfer fee: £3m
Ao Tanaka once sat at the top of this list, but he has fallen out of the starting XI in the new season and is yet to prove himself at the highest level.
However, costing a mere £3m, the Japanese international revolutionised the Leeds midfielder instantly upon his arrival in 2024 and was the driving force behind the promotion charge.
2 – Jayden Bogle
- Signed from: Sheffield United
- Joined Leeds: July 2024
- Transfer fee: £5m
Jayden Bogle cost just £5m, which looks more like an amazing steal the more he plays. The flying right-back was sublime in his debut campaign, ensuring Farke’s attacking system worked with his non-stop running on the wing and chipping in with 11 goal contributions.
The fact that he was signed from a main promotion rival makes it even sweeter.
1 – Joe Rodon
- Signed from: Tottenham
- Joined Leeds: July 2024
- Transfer fee: £10m
Joe Rodon may have returned to Leeds after his successful loan for a steep £10m, but he has proven to be worth every penny.
The centre-back was imperious throughout the whole season, with many people naming Rodon their player of the year. He is continuing that form in the Premier League and even adding goals to his game.
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