For the entirety of Daniel Farke’s three years at Leeds United, he has failed to bring in a no.10 worthy of wearing the shirt. Brenden Aaronson has been his best bet, but his inconsistencies are glaring.
Not since the days of Pablo Hernandez have Leeds had a truly mesmerising no.10 that could create magic out of nothing. Hernandez scored the goal that secured promotion for Marcelo Bielsa against Swansea.
GET HIM IN: Harry Wilson’s stats compared to Leeds’ attacking midfielders last season 😮
All stats from 2025-26 Premier League season.
Leeds have tried and failed since. James McAtee and Fabio Carvalho were targeted by Leeds while in the Championship, but Leeds couldn’t get a deal done. Facundo Buonanotte joined Leeds back in January.
But the Argentine failed to make the matchday squad more than he did. However, David Ornstein reports Leeds have now secured a deal to sign a player that could potentially fill Hernandez’s void; Harry Wilson.
David Ornstein confirms Leeds United have signed Harry Wilson
It’s a remarkable bit of business by Leeds. Wilson came within an inch of joining Leeds last summer, and playing alongside his Wales teammates. But Fulham pulled the plug on the 29-year-old’s departure.
After the season of his life, in which Wilson had a hand in 17 Premier League goals, bigger clubs wanted to sign him this summer. Marco Silva’s Benfica and even Aston Villa wanted him on a free transfer.
Now, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports Leeds have agreed a deal to sign Wales star Wilson on a free from Fulham. It sees Leeds finally sign a no.10 that is capable of filling the void left by Hernandez.
A medical is scheduled, with Ornstein reporting on X that Wilson will sign a long-term deal and earn a substantial pay rise on his Fulham deal. Salary Sport say he was earning £76,000 a week in West London.
Ornstein said on X: “Leeds United reach agreement to sign Harry Wilson as free agent. Targeted by many clubs amid expiring contract. Wales int’l to do medical & join on long-term deal with higher salary.”
Comparing Wilson’s Fulham spell and Hernandez at Leeds
Remarkably, the numbers are similar, and that explains just how good Wilson has been and how he can be Leeds’ answer to Hernandez. The latter played 175 times for Leeds, having a hand in 77 goals.
How Leeds could line-up in 2026-27 with four new arrivals 👀
Suzuki, Charles, Brandt and Wilson all linked.
At Fulham, Wilson clocked up 187 appearances – 12 more than Hernandez at Leeds. He would go on to have 89 goals and assists, and it must be said that the majority of those games are in the Premier League.
Hernandez created 116 chances in his best season at Leeds (2018-19), while Wilson created 102 in 2021-22. Hernandez averaged an XG of 0.22 during his Leeds stint per 90, while Wilson has 0.29 at Fulham.
But Hernandez had slightly better expected assists of 0.31, while Wilson has managed 0.26. The stats are so similar that Leeds fans, and Farke himself, can believe that the search for a new Hernandez is over.
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